All My Love, Gennavieve

I live in a cabin which overlooks the lake. The space surrounding the cabin is just as one would imagine-nestled in spring green trees and tucked away from the business of the world. The view from my cabin shows the North entrance and road leading to the camp. Here, I enjoy watching the world pass by. I see excited guests enter camp for the first time. I see cars lined up with anticipation to pull through the gates. I see a vehicle speed around the country road, only to stop and reverse for missing the entrance. I see fireworks over the lake and guests gathered in the pasture to watch in wonder as the lights create a double show in both the sky and the water. I see the morning fog creep in and cover the lake like a blanket. I see a mass of mosquitos hovering around the water's edge. I see friends take a slow walk, savoring the day. I see employees leave after a day of hard work. I share in a snapshot of an individual's life by watching a singular moment in the view

I love Zumba. I love creating a space for women to let their hair down (well, really we pin it all back because it becomes a hot mess)and be wild. I love the blaring music and the deep bass which echoes through your whole body. I love opening the floor for women to be creative, to feel sexy, and to shake their God-given hips. I love the diversity of music we dance to-empowering, strong, and beautiful. More than anything, I love looking out into the audience to see awkward smiles erupt into laughter, to glimpse confidence come out like a lioness when one flips her hair, to watch the sweat drip from the hard work of a healthy body, and to know the diversity of stories, faces, and styles representing women united in dance. This is why I teach Zumba.

C.S. Lewis said, "God always lets us feel the frailty of human love so we'll experience the strength of His." I've become more and more aware of the frailty of my own love. I am limited by sin. Fear and pride cause hurt and disappointment. The failures of my love bring me to my knees, and I realize how desperately grateful I am for God's love. His love is unconditional. His love is sacrificial. His love speaks quietly to the desires of my heart. His love disciplines in a manner which encourages growth. His love removes the stain of sin so I may receive the perfection of His presence. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loves us." What a gift!? The small ways humans express love are mere reflections of the love of our Heavenly Father. How he loves us in sunsets, and dances, and pastures filled with flowers are fractions of His heart's expression of love. How he loves us in heartache, and loss, and grieving are bound together by