Dancing on the Verge of Dawn is a collection of stories, essays, and poems by women who've experienced uncertainty, upheaval and loss in the inevitable challenges of life. Many of them have lived cross-culturally in vastly different cultural settings where they faced isolation and restriction long before COVID-19 came along. Using these memories they invited reflection and insight from their own journey.
They asked themselves the questions-when was God's presence near to me through a hard time? What did I gain from the challenge-or how did I learn to connect to God more deeply in that time?
Although the book is about serious themes, there is joy and gratitude woven into these stories. Above all, it gives the reader a sense of companionship as we have all faced a challenge at some time. And hope-there is hope for each one of us to gain something of value from the hard season we are in just now.
Contributorsix
Welcome to the dance of lifexiii
Introductionxv
1. DEEP, DEEP LOVE1
Nancy Williams
About the Author4
Interlude: Song of Heaven5
Michelle P.
2. LITTLE JOY CRUMBS7
Sarah Bahiraei
About the Author10
Interlude: The Smell of Fresh Rain11
Ellen Janzen
3. THE GIFTS OF SLOWING DOWN15
Robyn Neufeld
About the Author18
Interlude: Waiting for the Sun to Rise19
Sarah Bahiraei
4. IN DELIGHT AND YEARNING-I REJOICE23
Wendy Konemann
About the Author26
Interlude: Invited27
Ellen Janzen
5. IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL29
Ella H.
About the Author32
Interlude: Finding God in Silence33
Michelle P.
6. THE FEAST35
Ellen Janzen
About the Author38
Interlude: If it's darkness we are having, Let it be Extravagant39
Sarah Bahiraei
7. WE FORGET HOW STRANGE WE ARE43
Louise C. Wood, as told to Ellen Janzen
About the Author48
Interlude: Shining Faces49
Michelle P.
8. THE BROKEN POT51
Aimee Roof
About the Author54
Interlude: Everlasting Arms Underneath You55
Ellen Janzen
9. LOVING MORE THAN DOING57
Nadia M.
About the Author64
Interlude: Feeling Useless65
Ellen Janzen
10. BRING IT ON67
Sharon MacDonald
About the Author73
Interlude: I wait75
Sharon MacDonald
11. SURROUNDED BY MERCY77
Michelle P.
About the Author79
Interlude: A Mirror in the Darkness81
Ellen Janzen
12. MY FATHER KNOWS85
Michelle H.
Interlude: A Sprinkle of Love89
Ellen Janzen
13. FROM A ROOM WITHOUT A VIEW91
Ellen Janzen
Interlude: The Good Luck Mug95
Sarah Bahiraei
14. WILD DONKEY WANDERING99
Hope Hessed
About the Author105
Interlude: Empty Space, Waiting Space, Still Space107
Ellen Janzen
15. A Story of Your Own:111
This page is for you: What is your story?112
