Dancing In The Mine Fields

There's a song by Andrew Peterson that I am loving right now. 

I have it on my ipod and as I was listening to it this morning while doing sit ups at the gym. thank you andrew for making sit-ups oh so much more enjoyable.

It is about marriage and well, basically dancing through the mine fields that this life inherently has within its path. 

And I couldn't help but think about my own marriage and the mine fields we have danced through- some with grace and some with a little stumbling. 

Here are the lyrics (in italics and bold)

and how I relate to it (not in italics)

Now, I am thinking you could have really easily figured that out by yourself, but I'll leave it just in case one of you hasn't had your coffee yet. Or iced tea. Or Diet Coke. Or whatever helps you function. 

Well I was 19 you were 21
The year we got engaged 

We were actually both 23.

Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway 

Nobody told us we were too young. I sounds young now, but I thought I was going to end up a spinster because I was about to turn 24. 

We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road 

No. Notsomuch. I got a ring with an emerald cut diamond like I wanted. 

We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago 

Pretty close. It's been 14 years. 

Chorus:
We went dancing in the minefields

We went sailing in the storm 

And it was harder than we dreamed

But I believe that’s what the promise is for 

This is where I really start to relate to this song. 

Because we have gone dancing in the mine fields.

We have endured extreme health scares involving our children, economic and financial distress, living in a home for ten years under construction, moving away together to a town where we didn't know a soul. 

But I get this idea of dancing in the mine fields. Of making your way through trials deftly and with joy. I recall the storms, but mostly I remember the sailing together. 

The moments like when our son was in the hospital and I looked at my husband and he said-

"He is going to be fine. I believe God has healed him." And I received it and stood on it and danced in the mine field. 

Well ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words 

The beginning of the end 

Here, to me he is talking about committing to someone and the beginning of the end of putting yourself first. 

But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin 

Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down 

And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found 

And isn't that just the truth. Laying your own life down is the only way to find life. And doesn't the phrase "lay your life down" sound so painful. The crazy thing is that when we tightly grasp it and fight to hold onto it, that's when it is hard. When we let go and give and not make it about us, that's when it becomes an easy price. 

And for me, goodness, I am almost embarrassed at what I have found. I almost feel guilty that I get to have this life with my family. 

So when I lose my way, find me 

When I lose loves chains, bind me

At the end of all my faith 

to the end of all my days

when I forget my name, remind me

That part makes me cry. Because I need what he's talking about. I love the safety of having someone know and love you so well that they can guide you back, remind you of who you are and bind you in love. 

Cause we bear the light of the son of man 

So there’s nothing left to fear 

So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands 

Till the shadows disappear 

Cause he promised not to leave us 

And his promises are true

So in the face of all this chaos baby 

I can dance with you

So lets go dancing in the minefields 

Lets go sailing in the storms 

Oh lets go dancing in the minefields 

And kicking down the doors 

I feel like this is where we are at. We are kicking down the doors of our dreams. And it is so much fun to do together. So we are going to say-

Oh lets go dancing in the minefields 

And sailing in the storms 

Oh this is harder than we dreamed 

But I believe that’s what the promise is for 

That’s what the promise is for

Click here to listen to the song. It is just so lovely. 

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