Hands

My friend Robert McCrary used to have a prayer attached to a bulletin board in his office titled “Hands.” The content speaks of transformation and grace. It moves from a preoccupation with the self to a love of others. The author is unknown, and today, we will make it our message and our prayer.

As we pray, begin with your hands clenched. Then, as the prayer instructs, slowly open them, and finally, if you are comfortable doing so, raise them.

Let us pray: I see, Lord, in my tightly clasped hands the representation of myself. I hold onto myself – my cares, possessions, pride. I shut you out – lest you change me. I shut out other people – lest they know me – lest they would hurt me. In fact, with these fists I could strike out against those who would threaten me. But I see in my whitened knuckles what this is doing to me. I am uptight, enslaved, imprisoned with myself. I am tired, tense, lonely, and am destroying myself.

And now in slowly opening my hands, I release myself to you, Lord. Take my guilt, cares, burdens, emptiness, and loneliness. My arms no longer hurt! My knuckles are no longer white! Thank you, Lord, for your release – for freedom – for peace. With open hands I can no longer shut you out – shut out other people – or strike out against those who would threaten me. Open hands are for helping. Fill them with your love. Show them what to do – how to serve.

Suddenly I am aware of the hurts and needs of other persons – of other situations. In my mind’s eye, I place them in these hands and lift them to you for your sustaining grace and healing love. I realize now, that I am no longer alone. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. Amen.