Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Dance Studio Santa Monica
One of my favorite paintings is Rembrandt’s “Jesus Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee”. It is an oil and was at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston until 1990 when it was stolen, and it is still missing.
It depicts a sail ship in a stormy sea. The right side of the painting is dark and full of terror as the ship appears to be sinking in the gale-force winds. In the dark of the ship, Rembrandt shows Jesus asleep in the as the storm rages.
The left side of the ship depicts the breaking of the storm with bright sunlight on the ship and the sails and the blue skies of a calmer sea. The disciples woke Jesus shouting that they were going to drown. He said to them, “O you of little faith”. Then Jesus gave orders to the wind and violent waves and it became completely calm!
The men were amazed and said, “Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Have you ever been in a storm in your life that was like this painting? I have experienced great challenges that I did not think I could endure. In the middle of my own stormy moments, there was always someone who was calm and peaceful. Someone full of faith and hope.
I’ll never forget when my partner was dying. Family, home care and friends were helping us through it all. One night, when Jim was past eating and was just sipping on water, I was calm and assured on the outside, secretly a wreck on the inside. Jim was calm. He asked me to my eat dinner in front of him. He asked me to eat slowly and tell him how good it was. A lovely friend had come over and even brought the plate of food upstairs. She was an angel friend.
The house was full of great foods as so many friends had brought so much. During those moments as I ate, Jim said things to me he had not shared for 16 years.
The most profound for me was this. He said, you know how you’ve always a pain, and how you’ve always driven me nuts? I said yes that I knew. Then tears fell from his eyes, he said to me, you know that is what I love the most about you. He told me that all those years, he loved me just as I was (difficult). He loved my creativity, friendship, and all the fun we had.
As the next four last days passed, we had conversations that I remember until today. I knew that I had my sea legs for being a caregiver and that I was strong. I could make it through this storm.
Jim’s death was at home, in a house full of both shifts of home care including a doctor. Many friends and family were also in the house. He died peacefully in my arms surrounded by love and great peace. I felt it was a blessing to care for Jim. Jim had prepared me, and I was ready to let him go.
You might ask, what did this do to me. Did I recover? How did it change me? The answer is this. This was the greatest privilege and honor of my life. To take someone to life’s transition, and to the gates of heaven is still to this day the most amazing, wonderful, and moving experience of my life.
It forever changed me and has given me hope of the next life. I was in that ship at sea with Jim, and I saw the light at the end of the dark night of the soul. Jim went on to the light and I remained.
What have I done with my sea legs for all these many years after? I have helped others. I am as strong as steel to help those who are ill, caring or knowing someone who is ready to transition, or is just having a hard time in their own life with grief and sadness. I am prepared to listen, help, love, encourage, and keep quiet to let them talk.
Nothing phases me now, and I love being able to help someone else as their storm is raging in their own life.
I’m not afraid of the future. I am not afraid of death. I have seen the heavens open with a crowd of angels taking a soul into the light. I will not be afraid.
I’m blessed in my life and I am thankful for today.
Do you need help with your sea legs? Email me and I’ll help you get ready to go through the storm, recover from the storm and thrive in a new life.
Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!
“Dance & Thrive in ‘25”
David Woodbury
davidearlwoodbury@gmail.com