Hands

There’s a lot of talk about hands these days, huh?

Do you think about your hands? If I’m honest, I don’t think of them a whole lot. Until recently! Are they clean, am I touching my face, what have I touched, who else has had their hands on it, etc. but also, what is it that my hands are capable of? My hands are so powerful in my daily life, they can be helpful and they could be hurtful too. The way we understand being God’s hands (and feet) in the world shifts a bit and causes us to get creative, in a lot of ways.

As we refrain from touching hands, touching things, from being physically connected it can feel like our hands are idle and we are helpless. Instead I’d invite you to think of all the things you can do with your hands that are helpful and not helpless in this time of distancing. Here are a few ideas, and we’d love to hear some of your ideas too! Post them in the comments to add to the list.

• write a note to someone
• pick up the phone and check in on someone
• wave at someone while out for a walk
• learn to crochet or knit
• put on a puppet show
• teach our kids how to sew on a button, or iron, or scrub a toilet 😉
• take pictures
• text someone that you’re thinking of them
• finger paint
• do a puzzle
• pray!

Finally, give yourself a pat on the back, you’re getting creative and re-patterning some of the ways you do life. Its hard work, but we can do hard things!
My friend Jewel (and God) reminds us:

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we’re all OK
I won’t be made useless
I won’t be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XErd4U3ssoI

It feels like we’re not OK, because we are not all OK, but we will be OK. God is with us always but, especially when we’re not OK. In the end, kindness toward our neighbor matters. Stay home, stay connected, we’re in this together!
Be sure to tell us how you’re being God’s hands in the world this week, how your hands are being helpful and what you’re learning about your hands!