Illness

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I just returned from a vacation in Maui. By local tradition, all activity ceased toward evening, and everyone made their way down to the beach to enjoy the sunset. What a lovely way to end the day! It made me feel that I was taking full advantage of the moment and enjoying the beauty of life.

Almost every evening, we were entertained by a man we referred to as the sunset dancer. A rather odd fellow, dressed only in swim trunks and carrying an iPod, would literally dance from one end of the beach to the other. Because he was the only one who could hear the music, we found the sight comical, and we would make up our own tunes to his movements. He never seemed to notice us or anyone else while enjoying his private moment in the midst of the crowd. He was unique and eccentric, and he added flavor to our evenings.

I watched him dance, but I never questioned why he danced.

One evening He danced by while I was chatting with some people. They mentioned that they knew him, and told us his story. One day he had gone for a job interview that required a physical examination. The results revealed that he was HIV-positive. This came as a complete shock to him.

I wondered if that was when he had begun to dance.

I am reminded of Job: shocked and dismayed at the catastrophes that had suddenly come his way, Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:20-22 NASB®). Through all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.

Job, another sunset dancer.

How very rare are these people who, in spite of alarming circumstances, choose to dance and worship in the midst of disaster. They hold my highest admiration and make me ask myself: “If I was going through such a sunset in my life, would I dance through it?”

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