Touch

The sounds of a crying child filled the air. The mother paced the floor with the wailing child in her arms, patting his back, trying to comfort him. He would not be comforted. This had gone on to the point the exhausted mother had tears streaking down her cheeks as well. Nothing she did calmed him. He was exhausted. She was exhausted. Their tears mingled as he continued to howl.

A friend entered the room and looked at the crying pair. She expected him to rail at her to hush the distressed child. He was a big man with rough callused hands. It was obvious that he had been working outdoors and had been disturbed by the sound of the unhappy child.

Walking over to them, he silently reached for the child. She held on more tightly which caused yet a new set of blood curdling screams from the child. The man gently placed his hands on the baby and said "Let me take him for a while. You are exhausted. Let me help."

She was exhausted. Looking into the man's eyes, she saw compassion where she had expected anger. She relinquished her hold to allow the child to slip into his arms.

He cradled the child to his chest, whispering soft loving words to him. As he gently rubbed the child's back he settled onto the man's chest. Before the exhausted mother's eyes, the child slowed his crying, dropped his head and slept with tears still drying on his cheeks, glistening in his eyelashes, his fisted hand relaxed as sleep claimed him. Walking with the now sleeping child, whispering quiet words, and gently rubbing his back the man's touch soothed body and soul.

Her back hurt. The tension of life had settled into her muscles, knotting them so that every move was filled with pain. Crawling onto the table, she positioned herself carefully as she waited for the massage therapist to enter. Music played softly in the background. He put aromatic oil on his hands and warmed them before gently placing them on her back.

Slowly, gently he began to rub the tensed muscles. Moving from side to side; swirling in circles, pushing and pulling, he applied gentle pressure and teased the tension from her. As he released the strain of the muscles, she relaxed and breathed deeply.

Sighing she expelled all the stress she had been carrying in her body--and her mind. As he gently manipulated her muscles, she released her cares and woes. He continued to gently knead, warm, and relax her body. He murmured soft words of encouragement. She began to weep quietly and told him of her day. He listened as he gently rubbed the muscles into a state of relaxation and calm. As he finished he lightly placed a warm blanket over her and told her to relax and rest for a while. Her spirit also calmed, she found a place of peace and rest.

His day had been hard. He had pushed to complete a project. Mishap and circumstances had conspired against every step of the way. There had been a wreck along the way on his way home of which he had narrowly missed being a part. He still had to pack and get on the road for his trip home for the holidays.

By the time he arrived at his family home the worry of the day, the tension of the trip, and swirling thoughts had combined to squeeze his heart into one of apprehension. Walking into his childhood home, her arms gathered him in. She enveloped him with her arms, rubbing his back, whispering words of comfort and love. Her touch calmed and soothed him. He released the tension he had held within and succumbed to the gentle love of her touch.

Touch is one thing we all crave. Touch--when we surrender to it can heal all our wounds. Jesus knew the healing power of touch. He gathered children unto himself with gentle touch. He laid his hands upon his disciples, blessing them with his touch. He touched the eyes of the blind and restored sight. He even knew when a woman reached to touch "the hem of his garment" and was healed.

In a world where we have become more and more disjointed, separated, touch is healing. Whether it is an enveloping hug, the clasping of hands, or a gentle touch on the shoulder, we crave touch. Even as we protest, a gentle, loving touch can make all the difference.

Loving, touchable God we crave you. Gather us in your loving arms. Embrace us with your presence. And when we still can't feel you, use us to touch, comfort, embrace, and care for one another. Help us to be willing to share the connection with one another and heal with touch. So be it. Amen.