Time with Sharon: Mission Events

July 2009

“On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “… What deeds of power are being done by his hands!” Mark 6:1

At the beginning of Mission events, I like to begin with prayer. We stand in a circle and I ask everybody to put their hands out in front of them. Then I ask God’s blessing on our hands, as we go about doing Jesus’ work of loving our neighbor in our community.

Our hands are miraculous feats of engineering. They turn and twist every which way, reach and clasp, hold and release, cup, curve, spread, and clench. They are even outfitted with devises on the ends, enabling digging, piercing, and prying. We can hang from them, shake with them, and stand on them. They can propel us forward, and catch our falls. They have the capacity to break a stack of bricks with one chop, and in contrast, stroke a child’s cheek with ultimate tenderness. Our hands are indeed amazing, and able to do wondrous things.

Jesus used his hands a lot. When he was growing up, he learned carpentry skills from his earthly dad, cutting, measuring, and smoothing wood. As an adult, he traveled from place to place, shaking hands and blessing those who came to see him. With his hands, he touched the sick, conveying healing and comfort. With his hands, he gathered the children about him, holding them close, and sharing God’s love for them. Jesus raised his hands to quiet the turbulent sea, curved his hands for a better grip under the Temple tables before rearing back to flip them, and broke bread and fish with his hands, feeding the multitude with 12 basket left over. Finally, he stretched out his hands to receive the nails that became the ultimate sign of his love for us.

Jesus used the gift of his hands to love people.

How do you use your hands? Do your hands hold a crochet hook, a hammer, steering wheel, or a drill? Do you write notes, hold the hands of children, or stir a bucket of paint? Do your hands reach out to shake other hands in greeting, grip a spoon to serve a hot meal , or press together in prayer?

There are many ways to use our hands to celebrate God’s love for us.

My prayer for each of us is that we will find something to do with your hands during the remaining summer days that shares God’s love with others. I am certain that both we, and our hands, will be blessed.

Peace,
Pastor Sharon