the lion's dance

"The Lion's Dance"

Lions dancing on poles...

(Well, not REAL lions, but I believe real ones wouldn't have been as beautiful to watch.)

We went on a walk late last Friday afternoon down beside the canal near our new home. Where we ended up was magical. Strolling beside the canal and under a bridge near the Star Floating Restaurant we made our way following the sounds of drums & cymbals beating loudly. Walking down between a fenced area - we followed Michael to a sidewalk where there was a 'turn-around' (where the street ended in a circle). We were standing in front of a very big building that we didn't quite know what it was, nor what was going on with all the noise inside. There was a young man, in a uniform somewhat like a hotel concierge, standing at the top of the steps leading in. (note to self: it usually pays to follow Michael to places unknown)

Michael asked what was going on. Before we knew it, we were following this gentleman inside what looked like a museum. The sounds of the cymbals & drums were growing - so much so that it was almost deafening. We ended up in a courtyard (completely closed in, yet the floor was grass). There in front of us was the 'band' in a semi-circle, playing loudly while a 'lion' danced to the beat. Standing and watching in awe for a few minutes before our personal 'attendant' led us up the escalator to the second floor where more excitement awaited us. He led us into a grand ballroom filled with round tables of people anxiously watching the show. Turns out the 'show' was a competition - a lion's dance competition - with teams from all over China.

The tasks that these teams were required to do was beyond belief. Two men dressed in costume had to 'dance' while the drums & cymbals beat. The dance included severel choreographed steps on several different sized poles that were placed all the way across the stage. The shortest poles (where the 'lion' first stepped up) were about 4ft off the ground. The tallest poles (on the other side of the stage) were taller than any of the men on the stage - @ 10ft tall. Doing this 'dance' would be hard enough - but the costume included the 'lion' which is a covering, somewhat like a heavy blanket. Unbelievable.

There were 11 teams competing - we walked in while team #5 was on stage. I sat in awe of these dancers. At some point during the dance the 'back' legs would pick up the 'front' legs and walk along the poles. Here were two men twisting & turning on these poles. Sometimes the man in back would lift the one in the front - holding him above his head while balancing & moving about the poles. I learned later that some of the 'men' were actually boys. They start learning this art at 9 years of age! (note to self: never try this at home..nor let Brady!)

There were only two teams that we watched that the lion didn't fall off the poles. Yet with each fall the 'lion' got right back up, covered once again with the 'costume' and started again up the poles.
Seeing these dancers fall made me think of life. When I fall or get discouraged...do I remain on the ground or 'down-in-the-dumps'? Of course I do - sometimes. There are times when just pulling myself back upright takes all the strength I can muster. (And I'm not trying to balance on any poles in a heavy costume.) But sometimes life feels like that - balancing on poles trying to dance to life's beat of the drum without falling off.

What about those lions on the poles? Is there a life lesson somewhere in watching them? I believe so. I think God was showing me something profound & magnified by the dancing of these beautiful lions.
Time and again when they'd fall off the poles - they just got right back up and started again. That's perseverance. God brought to my mind that night that I will have times (perhaps many in Hong Kong) when I'll fall. But in Him & through His strength I can persevere. It gives me hope. True hope and lasting strength comes from heaven.


Romans 5:3-6
...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; character produces hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.