Wednesday, January 6, 2010

30 Days of Touching

Day 3—That was very touching!

There’s touching. And then there’s being touched. The focus of my reflection today is on the later, but not in the way you might think. This morning, I had an ultrasound. (Clarification—no, I’m not pregnant. No, I don’t have anything serious going on.)

Of all my “touching” experiences today, that one is by far the most memorable. The technician probed and prodded with the ultrasound wand, making sure the high frequency sound waves penetrated into my organs so that she could get a good picture of what she needed to see. Her "touching" touched beyond the external/physical to the inside of me.

Touch can do that.

Touch transmits energy beyond the physical sensation—it gets under our skin. It “touches” us on the inside. When my husband puts his hand on the back of my neck, his arm around me or holds me, the sensation of being touched by him penetrates my skin and makes my heart warm. Touching has very powerful properties!

Is that why Jesus often touched people when he healed them? Instead of standing at a distance, saying the word, and watching what happened, he typically moved toward them, placed his hand on them and healed them. His physical contact was the agency through which his healing came.

As I consider the impressive nature of touch, I want to ask:
  • Who needs my touch?
  • Whose touch do I need?
  • How does Jesus want to touch me today?
How would you answer those questions for yourself?

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