Hands

 

Today at church a very wise man got up and shared some of his thoughts and feelings he was experiencing.  He immediately started talking about hands.  He started by sharing how grateful he was that he had just been sitting with his wife holding hands after 42 years of marriage.  He talked about how nice that was.  

He mentioned that we often greet others with hands, touching connecting, flesh to flesh.  Sometimes it might be a hug.

He continued by saying how important it is to have hands.  He asked us how life would be different if we only had one.

I thought about that.  What would service look like without hands?  It can certainly be done, but it did make me think...

He spoke about hands of service.  How important service is and how often we associate service rendered to others with hands.  I Googled "Helping Hands" and was amazed at how many organizations, foundations, NGO's, non-profits etc... had these words in their title.

It caused me to reflect on my own hands and their service.  I felt as if I were lacking... My hands have been too idle.  I can't say that they have been too busy, too tired or too worn out in the service of others.  Have I asked Heaven how they could be more helpful?  In what ways? Could I write or text an uplifting message to someone?  Could I use Zoom or Teams to connect with someone that could use remembering a great memory from the past?  Could I pull a few weeds from my neighbor's lawn as I walk by it each night?  It struck me that my brain does the thinking work, my heart feels the compassion, but ultimately my hands execute those thoughts and brings those feelings to life.  Whether they be loading the dishwasher, replacing a light bulb or maybe playing the guitar to make beautiful music, making food to share with someone, or when they find themselves on someone's head needing a special blessing of comfort. Have I done many of these tasks?  Yes, but has my heart and mind been involved or just my hands? Have I missed the mark by finding myself only feeling good about checking the boxes?  I still reflect even more as I go deeper.... have my hands been as helpful as they can be?

 In many spiritual traditions, hands symbollize compassion and healing.  Hands are incredibly spiritual... they can do so much good to lift souls and brighten spirits.  I believe Helping Hands are Healing Hands.  

This good brother then mentioned Jesus' hands...  How he looks forward to seeing those hands in a coming day.  Hands with the marks that bear witness of his ultimate sacrifice and service of all possible service in this world and the next.  Those hands that did nothing except bless the lives of countless lepers, diseased, sick, lame, mute, deaf, maimed and even brought forth the dead.  Those hands that had to lift and bear His own cross.  Yes, these are His hands.  The Hands that will never rest in serving and making sure all that were His will come back to God's presence.  

If you don't think you are spiritual you might be wrong...  Maybe your church isn't a building, or a mosque or synagogue.  Maybe it is wherever your hands are helping someone else?   Have you thought about that?  Maybe that is the best church of all.... where everyone is a bit more concerned with using their hands to help someone else besides themselves.

Speaking of church, I am so glad I went there this day.  What I heard sparked something inside me, a certain amount of unrest and wrestle.... a hurts good struggle as I realized I can do more with these hands of mine.  It caused me to remember a day so many years ago, when my hands were in such pain with carpal tunnel and my brother laid his hands on my head, and gave me a blessing of comfort and healing.  He said something I won't ever forget.....  "Aaron, your hands are not yours, but the Lord's.  Use them in His service and your pain will be forgotten."    

What a powerful thing to consider and it made me think about how I use them, for Him.

I am grateful for the hands I have been given.