The Power of Touch

Ok, so I just had a huge "God" moment while reading about the power of touch.

I was reading an article about the use of intentional touch in the nursing field. Apparently there is a practice of intentional touch called hand and foot care, especially useful with populations who are "touch starved" (homeless, migrate workers, disabled, elderly,etc.).

When I read an anecdote of a nurse bandaging the wounded feet of a homeless man at a shelter I immediately thought of our Savior washing the feet of his disciples, during the now famous Lord's Supper, prior to his execution.

As one who is fascinated with the Lord Supper phenomenon (Jesus radicalized Passover!) because I feel that American Christians have lost the true meaning of the "remembrance" of this sacrament; I thought I had studied this practice from every point of view...until today.

When I was a youth and college minister, I tried to exemplify humility, compassion, and respect to my students by initiating each group with a "washing of the feet" ceremony. I, as their minister, was humbling myself before them in order to express to them that they are valued by Christ and therefore valued by me. It was always a very emotional and extremely bonding experience. Probably a reason why I am still in contact with many of my former students to this day. :)

It was also beneficial to me. Not because I am so amazing to have humbled myself before them, so "Look at me!"...No. It was because I felt connected to them in a way I had not before. We were bonded...in a physical, psychological, social, and spiritual act. This is why I think foot washing was deemed a sacrament.

Yet, I never thought of what Jesus may have received from his experience of washing the disciples' feet. The rest of his life from that point forward is lived in seclusion and loneliness. It is the only point in Scripture where, the community of who God is, is literally divided. God is separated from God in Jesus' death on the cross. What could sustain a fully human/fully God being, who has chosen to suppress his deity in order to experience true humanity, to endure an unjustified torture and death for those who are either absent, cheering on his death, or unconcerned?! Could it possibly be the psychological, biological, social and spiritual benefit he received in the foot washing? Was it that bonding experience that caused him to continue on, even when feeling totally abandoned and betrayed enough to yell out "Father, why have you forsaken me?!"

As I continue to learn more about the psychobiological benefits of touch in my studies, I inevitability filter it through my theological training and my intense fascination with the concept with true community. It is truly a mind-blowing, yet simply beautiful thing to see God's hand in it all. We are truly designed by God to be in community with God and to be in community with each other.

One day I hope I can open a clinic for the touch starved so they may receive hand and foot touch therapy. What a vehicle through which to share God's love and to receive God's love from those who feel they have nothing to offer the world.

Just my thoughts today while working on my ethics paper...Had to get it out of my head and on paper so I wouldn't forget. :) I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'll have more on this later... :)


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Good Friday

It is Good Friday today. The paradox of that statement is interesting. The tragedy of Jesus' horrific death allows us all to have life everlasting. Through his greatest suffering and sacrifice, God showed us unimaginable love and grace...a perfect reminder that sometimes what we consider tragedy is really a blessing to be later realized.

This is my Facebook status today. I thought it was worth publishing here. 

Practical Spirituality

A friend of mine and my former counselor, Dr. Wes Eades, has a blog called Practical Spirituality
He recently posted an article called A Way Back to Soul. I was touched by the content within this article series. I posted a comment to Part 5 of this series (and on previous parts of this series) and decided to share with you my response. It is included below. I would encourage you to visit his site and read it for yourself. If you would, comment here to share with me your thoughts on this topic that he approaches with such gentleness.

Thank you, Wes, for sharing this with us.

My response:

WOW! What a wonderful blog article, Wes!
I have so many thoughts on all of this, but I will just answer your question posed: Who, if anyone, has ever told you about “door number 3″?

While at East Texas Baptist University, I had a professor who took me under his wing simply because he felt called to, I suppose. The relationship that developed has been one that has impacted and continues to influence my life.

He was the one who posed the question to me concerning whether or not there was another option in viewing God than the two you presented above, of which were presented to me in church, as well.

I can definitely say that Door Number 3 does not lead to a road marked with definite road signs and lots of warm sunshine. I have experienced lots of fog, clouds, rain, and storms along this road. But I’ve never felt without God’s presence and after every storm, the rainbow of God’s promise always beacons me forward.
What I have learned thus far is: Through great suffering comes the capacity for greater happiness, love, joy and grace.

We have been called as Christians to live an adventurous life not a sheltered one. As Henri Nouwen states, “We are called to live in a house of faith and not of fear.”

Being sheltered to me states that we are afraid of something. Faith walking is not about having faith that God will protect us from suffering, but instead it is about having faith that God will be with us when we do.

Thank you for the post, Wes.
Always a pleasure.

Mobile Blogging

So I just found a free app on my phone that allows me to blog anytime, anywhere! :)
Hopefully, this will help me to update my blogs more often.

Here's hoping!


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