holy dance

In a couple of days, we will have the celebration that is Trinity Sunday.  For many people, that elicits a yawn or leaves them with eyes that are glazed over!

Trinity isn’t three as the answer to a math problem.  Trinity speaks about the nature of God.  God is a community.  You need at least three for there to be a community.  But this isn’t “community” the way we often think of it.  It isn’t a collection of individuals who just happen to be in the same area.

There’s a term called “perichoresis.”  It comes from two Greek words meaning “around” and “to contain” or “to dance.”  It was used by ancient writers to describe how the Persons of the Trinity share the lives of each other, constantly interwoven in a vibrant intimacy of love, a dance of love.  They hold each other in a holy dance.  That is what’s happening within the heart of God.

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “I would believe only in a god who could dance.”

I’m reminded of the chorus from the hymn, “Simple Gifts”:  “When true simplicity is gained / To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed / To turn, turn will be our delight / ‘Til by turning, turning we come round right.” 

This is a joyous love that is interwoven into creation itself.  God, who is love, says of creation, “It is good.”  When we get a glimpse of that, we realize that the Holy Trinity is far from some dry, dusty doctrine.  We dive right into the heart of truth and get the invitation that says, “There’s a party going on!”