Hands

I noticed recently that when I take photographs of people engaged in something, I tend to zoom in on their hands. Out of my 20 favourite holiday pictures (Click here : Lasting Glances, Sept 3), 6 or 7 of them show hands: a handful of plump blueberries, a handful of trail mix with a finger pointing to the last red Smartie, a hand with a Timmy’s turkey club, one holding a slippery walleye, hands tying flagging tape, preparing breakfast… I love capturing the detail of what the hands are doing.

Hands, in general, hold intrinsic appeal for me. They are an intimate but visible extension of a person. When observing someone, they may avert their eyes, but rarely will they hide their hands. Very few people are self conscious about their hands and there’s something open and honest about that. I love catching a glimpse of hands that look like my Dad’s tanned, calloused, work hands. And I love catching a glimpse of my mom’s lovely fluid penmanship in notes and recipes received from others. I have one friend who has real worker's hands, but they can tackle ANY task she sets her mind to, which makes them capable and beautiful. I have another friend with very graceful hands, and it's even lovely to watch her slide a Ziploc bag shut!

When I think about God, I imagine His hands…moving, orchestrating, never still. I don’t have a mental image of a face but always hands: creating, healing, feeding, welcoming, embracing, washing feet, sheltering…
We are created in God’s image. As created and creative beings, our own hands are a powerful extension of God in us. Every pair of hands has the potential to be used by God and do His work here: to make a meal for someone, to embrace a hurting heart, to clean up a mess they didn’t make, to make a simple repair, to pen words of encouragement, to drive to an appointment, to pull weeds, to deliver flyers, to bake, to pour coffee, and sometimes to sit folded on a lap while listening, or folded in prayer.

We use our hands to do these things not out of guilt, but as a response of gratitude. We respond when our hearts are moved by a need we see. So often these are small things for us. They are things we naturally enjoy doing. It is as simple as picking up the phone when someone pops into your mind. Maybe it involves bringing some muffins to someone because you thought of them while you were baking. It’s a matter of learning to listen to the subtle nudges of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we see the need and we respond. Sometimes we don't see the need because we are preoccupied with something else. Sometimes we say, "No, I don't want to". And sometimes we are the recipient because someone else responded to the Spirit moving their heart. That’s such a cool feeling!!

This is me with a mouthful of berries.

God can manifest His presence in miraculous and grand ways, but most often He chooses to move softly and almost silently by His Spirit, through those who seek to be His hands. People willing to bring a little bit of shalom to someone else’s chaos. His Kingdom coming one small act of Grace at a time.

I originally wrote this for the October issue of our church newsletter, "Happenings".