Jeff's Journal

I must have held hands with forty people yesterday.

   There was the visit to the one sick at home and the

   moment we prayed together.

   There were the handshakes and introductions

      to the family at the funeral home and

      the circle of prayer which followed.

   At Bourbon Heights, before the devotion,

      I walked around to each person and delivered

      a personal greeting and shook each hand

      as they were able to extend them to me.

      Then at the end of the service, as they left,

      I took their hands again and thanked them for

      coming to worship with me.

   There was the hand I held in a room on the second

      floor of the nursing home to encourage and comfort.

Throughout the day, there were strong hands,

   little hands, arthritic hands, paralyzed hands,

   men's hands, women's hands, hands that did not

   want to let go, hands that could barely acknowledge

   the presence of my hand. I find it important to hold

   hands, to shake hands, in order to affirm that we

   are one in Christ Jesus.

This Sunday, we will ordain our new elders by the laying

   on of hands. From our hands will come the energy, warmth

   and movement that will remind each elder of the presence

   of the Holy Spirit in us and the presence of the Holy Spirit

   in them. The hands will confirm blessing, strength and duty.

The hands of the ordained will confer ordination on those chosen

   to serve and the approval of the most high God will be sought.

The very future of the body of Christ, known as First Christian Church

   (Disciples of Christ) will be in the hands of the ones who are

   being sent to hold the hands of all God's people.

Moving to the deeper places,

Jeff