I was reading an email from Carol Lynn Pearson and it struck a chord with me at this busy chaotic time of year. The following is from her email....
STORY: THE HANDS OF CHRIST. There’s a story that I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’ve searched the Internet for its verification and can’t find any. Maybe it’s historical, maybe it’s not. If it’s myth, it’s nevertheless true:
"Shortly after the culmination of the Second World War, a devastated city in England began its heartbreaking and wearying work of restoration. In the old city square had stood a large statue of Jesus Christ, with His hands outspread in an attitude of invitation. On the pedestal were carved the words, ‘Come unto me.’
In the process of the restoration of the statue, with the aid of master artists and sculptors, the figure eventually was reassembled, except for the hands, of which no fragments could be discovered anywhere in the surrounding rubble. Someone made the suggestion that the artists, since the former hands could not be found, would have to fashion new hands.
Later came public protest, couched in the words, ‘No, leave Him without hands!’ So today, in the public square of the English City, the restored statue of Christ stands without hands, and on its base are carved the words, attributed to St. Theresa of Avila, ‘Christ has no hands but ours to do his work today.’"
I have personally been touched by Christ many times through the hands of one of his followers. You have too. We recognize the touch–whether it is physical, verbal, material–because it is wrapped in love. And it is a gift that pays no heed to difficult economic times. Nor does it specialize in the month of December. I recall often one of the "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" in the book of that name by Deepak Chopra–to give a gift to every person with whom you interact: a smile, a touch, a compliment, a prayer.
There is so much need, and we each have an abundance to give. Every day I hear from people who are suffering deeply because of recent political events. Your particular life invites into it those who need precisely what you have to offer. Each of us has unending opportunities to be the hands of Christ. Let us develop a kind of Christmas habit–a little gift given every day to every person.
