THE HUG

(THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN FACEBOOK IN MARCH OF 2021)

It wasn’t right…I sensed it from the very beginning last spring when social distancing began to be enforced.

The first month was acceptable…we just didn’t know what this mysterious ‘virus’ was all about. But over time, it became clearer and clearer to me that something simply ‘was not right’.

I know I’m not alone with this sentiment. I know that deep down most people, if they really quieted their minds long enough to let their heart (and not their fear) speak to them, would come to the same realization.

We are social beings. We were created for relationship. We were created for connection.

God sent his Son to dwell amongst humanity to not only Save us, but also to touch us physically. Jesus hugged. He embraced. He smiled and gazed into the eyes of men and women, children and elderly. He touched the infirmed and wept over the dying. God physically connected with humanity through His son. Physical to physical.

The social distancing prevents us from enjoying the twinkle in another person’s eyes. We can’t see the joy or even the sorrow in another person. How do we connect when we can’t witness another person’s humanity?

The masks conceal one’s face…the smile (to match the sparkle in the eyes) or the frown (that would shed light upon one’s sorrow). The smile, the facial expression and most of all the eyes offer one a glimpse into another person’s soul.

Have you not noticed how people tragically make less eye contact now? People look down or straight ahead as you pass each other on the street. We become strangers evermore easily. Less effort is made in order to acknowledge another person’s ‘being-ness’ when you can’t see their face.

I submit that this is ‘the enemy’s’ intention. It distances us from God. Because we are God’s children, demonic forces are trying to force a wedge between us, and thereby, our own God given humanity.

God is Love. He is about relationship. He created us as a manifestation of Him and His love We do that through connection and our hearts connect when we can smile upon each other. The twinkle in the eye magnifies the smile. It animates the spirit.

The hug is the expression of love in the physical realm.

IT IS TIME TO START HUGGING AGAIN MY FRIENDS!