The General Dance
The universe is not simply a random collection of events. It is a divine dance, an eternal movement unfolding with beauty, purpose, and grace. "The world and time are the dance of the Lord in emptiness. The silence of the spheres is the music of a wedding feast." [1] Life, in its truest sense, is not a mere sequence of actions or occurrences, but a cosmic choreography—a harmonious interplay between all things, where each step, each turn, has its place in the grand design. We are not merely passive observers of this dance; we are invited to join in, to be an active participant in the flow of creation. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
Creation itself is not an accident or a mere series of mechanical processes. It is a purposeful act, a divine creation imbued with meaning and intention. "The world was made as a temple, a paradise, into which God Himself would descend to dwell familiarly with the spirits He had placed there to tend it for Him." [1] (Genesis 1:1-2) The universe was made for God to dwell in, to interact with, and to experience through the spirits He created. Human beings, made in the divine image, are called to partner in this creative work. "He made man in His own image and likeness, as an artist, a worker, homo faber, as the gardener of paradise." [1] Our role is not to merely inhabit the earth, but to tend it—to care for and nurture the creation that has been entrusted to us. In this partnership with God, we mirror His own work of creation, engaging in acts of love, creativity, and stewardship. (Genesis 2:15)
Yet, in our participation, there is not only action but contemplation. In silence and stillness, we are invited to unite with the divine and to experience God’s presence directly. "The union of the simple light of God with the simple light of man’s spirit, in love, is contemplation." [1] In contemplation, we enter a space of intimate union, where we leave behind the distractions of the world and simply rest in God’s presence. It is not a mental exercise or a pursuit of knowledge, but a direct, experiential encounter with the Divine. "The meeting of these two lights in one mind is truth." [1] When our spirit merges with God’s, the truth of the universe, the truth of our being, is revealed not in intellectual terms but in the deep, living experience of divine connection. (Matthew 11:28-30)
The mystery of the Incarnation is another key aspect of this divine dance. God did not remain distant from creation but entered fully into it. "So God became man. He took on the weakness and ordinariness of man, and He hid Himself, becoming an anonymous and unimportant man in a very unimportant place." [1] This radical act of humility shows us that the divine is not only present in grandeur and majesty, but in the humble and the ordinary. The Incarnation teaches us that God’s presence can be found in the seemingly insignificant corners of life, in the quiet moments, in the mundane and the hidden. In this way, the divine dance is not just performed on the grand stage of the world’s greatest events, but in every small, sacred act of love, kindness, and care. (Luke 2:7)
As we reflect on this divine union, we also recognize that while we may experience external suffering, our true selves remain untouched by it. "For though evil and death can touch the evanescent, outer self in which we dwell estranged from Him, in which we are alienated and exiled in unreality, it can never touch the real inner self in which we have been made one with Him." [1] The outer layers of our existence—our bodies, our personalities, and the circumstances surrounding us—are subject to suffering and change. Yet, our true, inner selves, the essence of who we are, remain eternally united with the divine. This reality offers both peace and resilience, for no external force can alter the reality of our spiritual union with God. (John 17:20-23)
It is this inner self, this eternal aspect of our being, that we are called to cultivate. "It is this inner self that is taken up into the mystery of Christ, by His love, by the Holy Spirit, so that in secret we live 'in Christ.'" [1] Our spiritual journey is not a quest for external validation or success but an inward journey to discover and nurture our true essence. This inner self, when aligned with the divine, becomes the source of our strength, our guidance, and our transformation. As we live "in Christ," we allow God’s love and presence to shape every part of us, guiding our thoughts, our actions, and our relationships. (Colossians 3:3-4)
The divine dance that we participate in is not one of control, but of surrender. "Appearances are to be accepted for what they are. The accidents of a poor and transient existence have, nevertheless, an ineffable value." [1] The world, with all its imperfections, does not exist to frustrate us but to teach us. Each moment, no matter how fleeting or challenging, carries value in the divine tapestry of creation. When we surrender our need to control, we open ourselves to the true rhythm of life, where every moment—every twist, every turn—has its purpose in the grand dance. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"For it does not matter much, because no despair of ours can alter the reality of things, or stain the joy of the cosmic dance which is always there." [1] Even in the face of despair, suffering, or difficulty, the cosmic dance continues. Life moves forward with a purpose, and we are invited to trust in its flow, to surrender our fears and resistance. No matter the challenges we face, we can find peace in the knowledge that the divine rhythm of the universe remains unchanged, and we are always part of it. This knowledge allows us to move through life with grace, embracing both the joy and the sorrow that come our way. (James 1:2-4)
The invitation, then, is to join the divine dance with an open heart. "For it does not matter much, because no despair of ours can alter the reality of things, or stain the joy of the cosmic dance which is always there." [1] This is not a dance of perfection or mastery, but a dance of presence. It is about showing up fully, embracing the moment, and moving in harmony with the divine will. As we allow ourselves to be carried by the rhythm of life, we discover a deeper sense of peace and belonging. The dance is always there, waiting for us to enter, to trust, and to participate fully in the beauty of creation. (Romans 12:1-2)
The divine dance is not something we control or fully understand, but something we are invited to participate in. "The world and time are the dance of the Lord in emptiness. The silence of the spheres is the music of a wedding feast." [1] The dance is a celebration of the divine presence in all things, and it is an invitation to embrace the joy and mystery of life, even when we do not have all the answers. As we dance, we are transformed, drawn deeper into the heart of the Creator, and invited to become more fully alive in the world. It is a celebration not of mastery, but of surrender, trust, and love. (Psalm 150:6)
[1] Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation