Each worshipful performance of Praise In Motion is preceded by various warm-ups for the dancers. There are differing poses, stretches, leaps, and such each dancer executes. In addition to a physical warm-up, though, PiM dancers also go through a spiritual warm-up, so to speak.

There are times of individual worship. Each dancer carves out a small place on the stage--only dancers and tech crew are present at this time, and the stage is the only place large enough to hold all the dancers at once. Worshipful music is playing nearby. Each dancer is in communion with his or her Lord. (The tech crew present pauses at this time, worshipping with the dancers in spirit.)

The dancers move--dance/worship--in whatever way they feel led. Each is doing something unique from the others, focused solely on worshipping the King. It is truly an awe-inspiring sight. I know the dancers aren't performing at all here, but their worship is so moving I wish there were a way others could see it without destroying the sincerity. If ever there were a time one could see worship in silent, graceful movement, this is it.

One dancer kneels, stretching his hands to the heavens, with a look of petition on his face, seemingly crying out to his Father to lift his burdens from him. (He does!) Another crumples into a small heap, arms laid out flat before her, face to the ground, adoring her loving King. A third looks up with a tear rolling down her cheek and a smile on her face, her prayer answered with joy.

For the most part, nobody sees this. Most of the tech crew is still busy in the background, out of earshot. The other dancers are focused only on their own communion with the Master, largely oblivious to those around them. There's no audience (but God).

Having watched PiM from the audience for years, I wondered how the dancers prepared spiritually. I wondered if repeated performances drained the spiritual life from them. I questioned how sincere they could be when it's a performance, although we're told it's really worship. Getting to know them more personally, seeing them behind the scenes, I have no doubt or questions remaining. It takes a lot out of them to dance, but their spirits are recharged in their worship.

My time with the tech crew this fall has revealed so much about PiM. The more I see, the more I am humbled and blessed and grateful. They are a magnificent ministry in an otherwise darkening world.