Dirty Dancing with Doubt

While they were talking, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then Jesus said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
Luke 24:36-39​

The late 80's released one of my favorite movies, Dirty Dancing.   I grew up dancing.  As a kiddo, I took dance lessons both ballet and tap, and also baton twirling lessons.  I love movement.  My teens years introduced me to sacred dance.  Adding movement to scripture to commuciate and interpret meaning.  So a movie about a young person's journey of self doubt and self discovery through dance was a story that resonated with me.  

If you know the movie, the lead character Baby, which is a telling nickname (her characters name is acutally Frances) had a bold confidence that also wasn’t without doubt. Likewise, the Camp Kellerman dance insturctor, Johnny Castle's bravado wasn’t without doubt. Without detialing the entire movie, most well known is the most qutoeable line..."Nobody puts baby in a corner” a case where someone deserves to shine and not hide who they are.  

All of this is to frame how, like the follwers of Jesus, who themselves were still disbelieving, wondering, and doubting Jesus' presence among them...that there can be joy within our doubt if we are willing to dance with it.  

Like any emotion, doubt wants to be felt. To be moved. To be attended to.  Doubt sashays through the room, challenging our confidence in things as they are. In the way we are. In the unknown things we don't yet understand about ourselves, the world, and it's systems.  Doubt isn't something we should put in the corner. We can’t ignore doubt or just tell it off.  Doubt taps it’s foot in the corner begging to be engaged. Doubt wants and demands a to be danced with! 

How can we make doubt a dancer partner?  First, we need a good teacher. 
Jesus knew his followers would have doubts, because good leaders draw doubts out into the middle of the dance floor.  The doubts are named, seen, heard, and acknowledged. Jesus asked his followers, 'why do doubts arise in your heart?'  But I don't think the word doubt isn’t the most important word in this question. The word ’why’ is. Engageing with doubt is the only way to understand it. 
​ 
So we need a good dance.
Perhaps a basic box step, to help us out. 
Step 1:  Acknowledge doubt.
                  Take the first brave step.  Recognize doubt's presence. 
Step 2: Name the doubt.  
                 What type of doubt is tapping it's foot in the corner.                          Self-doubt? Intellcetucal doubt?  Spiritual doubt? 
Step 3: Invite the doubt to dance.  
                  Discover 'why' the doubt exists.  Ask questions. 
                  Seek wisdom. Be curious. Seek help if needed. 
Step 4: Dance it out.  
                 Doubt can be unsetteling, even scary and imoblizing.  

---