To Dance in a Cave

It’s amazing what can be done to spruce up a cave, isn’t it?

For instance, in the Luray Caverns of Virginia you will find the world’s largest musical instrument – the Great Stalacpipe Organ, invented by Mr. LeIand Sprinkle, a mathematician and electronic scientist at the Pentagon. Stalactites covering 3 1/2 acres strike up a symphony when electronically tapped by rubber-tipped mallets.

Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave website advertises Diamond Caverns, where you’ll enjoy a “state-of-the-art lighting system with modern concrete trails and safety hand railings throughout.” Or you can take an underground boat tour of Lost River Cave, where a subterranean Nite Club operated until the 1960’s (the dance floor has been restored!). Or visit Outlaw Cave where, legend has it, famous outlaw Jesse James hid out. Join his memory for a “35-minute non-strenuous, guided tour filled with beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and other breath taking formations.”

Or perhaps you would prefer Onyx Cave, billed as “a colorful cave... a cool, comfortable 60 degree temperature, year-round. Beautiful onyx formations can be seen throughout. Tours of Onyx Cave are not strenuous and may be enjoyed by young and old alike.”

I am ready to go. Seriously, sign me up for those cave experiences... they sound like great adventure.

But having already visited a few, I’ve noticed that people enter a cave in groups, with a leader and plenty of lighting and “modern trails and safety hand railings throughout.” Someone has already been hard at work to change the former look of the place. Take away the group and the guide and the light and the safety measures and the music, and where am I? Lost and alone in a claustrophobic maze, petrified by the blackness, praying for rescue.

When Pastor Rick spoke of the spiritual cave-dweller’s experience Sunday, he wasn’t talking about "something that can be enjoyed by young and old alike." No one calls ahead to book seasons in the cave of cancer or divorce or emotional illness or financial reversal, and there’s precious little inherent beauty in those circumstances...

And yet, thankfully, Somebody did brave the darkness and danger to bring music and lighting and safety and joy and, yes, even dancing into the lonely silence of those caves. Into my cave, and yours. Jesus went through death and hell to become Light in those places. He gave His Spirit to be a constant Guide. He makes His childrens’ steps firm (Ps. 37:23) and turns mourning to dancing (Ps. 30:11) -simply by bringing His Presence into it.

So sometimes, when all goes black, I have to sit down in the silence and let my eyes adjust to the Light... maybe you’ve found it so, too. Only then can I see that I’m not alone. Only then do I hear a faint melody of joy coming from deeper places...

Only then do I discover that His Presence has changed the look of the place forever.