My lovely wife left travelled yesterday to visit a loved one who is faced with a medical condition unforeseen just a few days ago. I’m glad she could make the trip home.

We had purchased tickets several weeks ago for tonight’s ballet, and we could not return them for a refund. I really wanted to go, but I did not know who to ask, so tonight as the time for the ballet approached I just kind of gave it up to God and asked for guidance.

I was open to anything … give both tickets away, sell one ticket, sell both tickets, give one ticket away, whatever. I left about an hour early and listened in my spirit for any prompting from God … driving slowly down the street looking for just the right two people … walking on the sidewalk near the theater looking for a kindly older lady who might enjoy a good show … finally, standing outside the theater ticket office asking anyone who approached if they might need a ticket.

I did feel a bit awkward about asking just any individual, after all they would be sitting beside me. That’s why I was kind looking for an older lady, perhaps a widow on a fixed income, I wanted to be able to bless someone like that. Besides, I was very close to both my Grandmothers up until the time they passed away, and I seem to enjoy very good relationships with the elderly.

In the end, I carried the extra ticket in with me and sat beside an empty seat.

I felt a little irresponsible for wasting the ticket, I thought to myself that I should have started sooner to find a solution. But I always try to turn lemons into lemonade, and so as I sat there waiting for the show to begin I contemplated how to put a positive spin on the situation. The elderly lady on the other side of the seat would have more elbow room. The short lady sitting behind the seat would enjoy a totally unobstructed view. And, I imagined that I was at the ballet with God … that this was God’s will for us this evening.

Wow, am I ever glad that God allowed me to see the show – those ballerinas and ballerinos were amazing! Graceful, strong, incredible athletes … spinning, twisting, and dancing … sinewy marvels of choreography.

If I tried to raise my leg once only 30% as high as they raise theirs seemingly every other step, I would be in physical therapy for months.

And the toe walking – ouch!

What made it even more fun for me is that it was the Innovations performance, an exercise in contemporary ballet forms. How would you like a little rock or funk with your pirouette?