What Annabel Croft’s performance on Strictly Come Dancing taught me about sorrow and joy

As the Strictly Come Dancing competition heads towards its conclusion, I’m recalling that a few weeks ago I sat on my sofa, pyjamas on and glass of wine in hand, watching as Annabel Croft danced her tribute to her late husband Mel, who died suddenly earlier this year. And I sobbed. I howled. My glasses steamed up with tears. It was profoundly moving to watch as Annabel danced through her grief. The pain etched on her face as she finished was almost inappropriately raw for Saturday night entertainment. And yet there was joy in the dance too, as she twirled and flew through the air with gravity-defying lifts. And it caused me to wonder at the capacity of humans to feel joy and grief in equal measure – and how that’s actually at the heart of the gospel. Joy and sorrow mingle together in the astonishing, sacrificial, world-changing action of Jesus on the cross.