Give someone a hug today!

My first venture into town after Christmas reminded me, by the cards on display, that the 14th February was Valentines Day. I grumbled to myself about the next money making exercise the marketing people were beginning to spin our way. The spirit of love and goodwill hadn't quite reached me that day!

Do you want a hug I asked my grieving friend? I received a nod and we embraced. It was the first touch of human contact my chum had received since the death of her partner and I'm told it meant so much. To be embraced and feel the warmth of human love, and know someone else cares, had meant so much. To hold the hand of someone as they wait for surgery, to reach out and touch the shoulder of another when you know times are tough, to make physical contact ignites warmth, love and comfort.

In a bible passage taken from a gospel writer called Mark we are told Jesus and his followers came to a place called Bethsaida (chapter 8:22). They brought a blind man to Jesus and asked Jesus to touch him. They did not ask for a chat; neither did they seek healing. They wanted physical contact; they wanted a touch. This is rare in our world. We substitute human touch with everything else, thinking that possessions, clothing, entertainment and words will show our love to one another. Jesus showed this to be an empty substitute by offering the one thing that is prized above every other gift: Jesus offered human contact. In touching the blind man he affirmed the fact that he was not an "unclean" reject of society. In this human touch, Jesus affirmed this man as a beloved brother. You may be like me and have been challenged by this story. How do I show appropriate ways of expressions of love? Give someone a hug today!

Stephen Richardson