The following is something originally in my part of the Boys On Dan that I had to cut out for time:
More recently in addition to Mighty To Save, the other song that was significant to me on this journey was Promised Land.
I’m going to see my Savior, I’m going to see my Lord,
I’m going to sing forever, ain’t gonna cry no more…
When they lay me underneath a heavy stone, and the cold grave grips my bones.
Don’t cry for me for in Glory I will be, dancing around the throne!
Now if that last part doesn’t make you smile then you’ve never seen my father dance!
The topic of dancing in heaven actually came up in one of our discussions in May or June. I had been taking lessons the last year or so but had just started videoing them to aid my memory of what I had learned when I practiced. I was showing dad a few of my latest moves from the tape, and he told me that he looked forward to dancing it heaven because he would be much better at it there than he was here.
Now, my father and I had a theological difference of opinion over whether or not his new body would have the same two left feet that his first body did. My father believed in a more extensive “instant knowledge” (I’m sure there is probably a $5 seminary word for this) in the next life than I do. We agree that in the next life, the question of the Godhood and our relation to them will not exist. The veil over that intrinsic knowledge – that in this life is necessary for Free Will to exist – will be removed. The naked truth of our failings in this life will be painfully apparent as well. The elects’ minds will definitely be clearer without sin, age, disease, and the enemy to cloud them. However I believe that our normal experiential knowledge will be largely unchanged. (I think a study of Eden along with certain passages concerning angels and visions of heaven support this position) How better to pass the infinite time in heaven than to learn and grow towards our potential inside a relationship with the King God and alongside fellow believers? Isn’t that a much more interesting heaven than the 24/7 singing-in-the-choir viewpoint of many?
That is not to say Dan had the choir view – far from it. I simply mention it here for contrast. Dad viewed his lack of dance ability as a fault of an imperfect body that would be corrected in his perfect one. (skill being included in knowledge here) However, I suspect he has discovered his healthy new body still needs to be trained in some new moves. ;)
I could be wrong, but skilled or not – one thing I’m sure of is that he’s groovin’ up there with a huge smile on his face. What my father lacked in dance ability he more than made up for with his “reckless abandon” approach to fun. Much like when King David danced before the Lord with similar abandon (to point of embarrassing of David’s wife) that is how I envision Dad dancing.
So that’s why I like this song. When I hear that passage, I can envision Dan in the throne room leaping and bouncing and “dancing” with joy. And by the time I get there he won’t need those quotes… and can show me a thing or two. :D
