signs of the season

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes,
I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance I
hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance (Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance (Rolling us along)
I hope you dance (Tell me who)
I hope you dance (Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes,
I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance (Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance (Rolling us along)
I hope you dance (Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance (Where those years have gone)
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)
Lee Ann Womack, Lyrics

While I'm not one for country music myself - I do find this song meaningful
The heaven & faith described in this song are often interpreted in the standard christian light found in most country songs (and that is perfectly valid should that be where your particular headspace is)...but I prefer to interpret it with my own twists.

I see faith as a type of courage; the courage to endure, to build, to try, to hope, and to believe. Faith is creative force while despair is paralyzing and destructive.

Heaven can be here on earth, not merely a tenuous afterlife reward. It comes from the ability to see, and accept, what is; but never to settle.
The Sheryl Crow's lyrics (Soak Up the Sun) suggest that:

It's not having what you want

It's wanting what you've got

...and perhaps that is the key, non?

Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell; Spirituality is for those who've been there.

~Namaste