The Breakdancer

We all make our own choices. It is called free will. We serve others by showing respect for different approaches to life.

I've been flipping around at dances before breakdancing was a thing. At high school dances, I could bust a back or front flip out of any dance move. Press handstand twist down to leg circle variations. If the crowd created a lane, I would do a full tumbling pass. At college, I was flipping off stages. Blacked out an entire lit dance floor by doing a back layout. It was called "break" dancing. So many bruises.

Then he arrived. The spotlight shifted to an amazing pop-lock master, in a hat. His whole dance style was mesmerizing. No flashy acrobatics, just natural physical talent that obeyed every beat. He would take the front floor, and I would take the main floor. It was on. We knew without looking whose turn it was to take the spotlight. He would do a full sequence of pop-lock poetry, I would do an acrobatic interpretation, with some basic pop-lock thrown in.

Over time, he nodded at me, I nodded at him. An unspoken detente of respect and admiration for each artist.

Even though the crowd changed from week to week, our battle was to command the crowd... a challenge welcomed by both. No one judged, but we knew who won each night. Our friend groups and lifestyles were totally different. There was never any mutual aggression, only genuine respect. One was not better than the other, only different styles. Each elevated the other to get better.

By lifting each other up and avoiding contention, we become peacemakers. Someone that respects God-given free will, refraining from imposing judgment. If others are interested in why your light shines bright, they will hear you. Contention is not of God. Love your neighbor as God loves you. God's love is pure empathy that fills our souls with good. Focus on our common goals and accomplishments as one family in Christ. There is only one Judge.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.