Lent IV: The Hand

 . . . your right hand shall save me.

 - From Psalm 138

I remember when I was a little kid, my Mom talking about a movie that used to terrify her as a child. It was called "The Beast with Five Fingers", and it was a black-and-white horror flick, about a severed hand that crawled around some old mansion, accosting people. I think it even killed one or two people. In time, it came on one of the local channels, probably on a Saturday late-night show. She found out about it and had us watch it.

Peter Lorre was in it, and he was at his creepy best, blabbering on about his encounters with "the hand" to skeptical others, whose doubts only set them up to become unwilling victims of the Hand.

Any human body part moving about, with being joined to the rest of a body, is simply, a frightening, and horrifying site for us. It makes for great visual drama and terror.

But then, there was the great hit single by the Judds, "Daddy's Hands," which described the calloused and worn, but strong hands of Daddy. They worked and made a comfortable life possible They dispensed swift and severe punishment for misdeeds. But they also could soften, and become a well-timed caress. They could hold the hands of a young child. They could touch others on the shoulder, instilling confidence and comfort.

The hand has come under attack in our times. Teachers, and co-workers (especially supervisors!) are warned not to touch others in their charge. And this is too bad; because, we need trustworthy people whose touch is not mistaken for inappropriate behavior. Where else, but down, can humanity go, when we're not allowed to touch each other?

Hands are critical elements of worship. We bring them together to pray, which symbolizes hands that are immobilized, neutralized, so that we can be touched by God. The bringing of hands together, also centers the human spirit - - - your circle is unbroken, your two sides are in balance.

We lift hands in worship, as if to raise them so that they may touch God. The open-handed stance reflect a heart that is open for healing and inspiration.

The hand can represent the gamut. It is symbolic of almost any form of human communication. It can take on almost any meaning we want it to.

So, we miss something powerful when we quickly read over passages that talk about the Hand of God. At the return of Christ, I'm sure God's hands will be evident, and it will be something to see!