Cultural Perspective

THE POWER OF TOUCH
By Leona Choy
(Excerpt from "Living It Up!")

Some of us are inclined to withdraw from the mainstream of life as we grow older. We put on an isolation mask and sit in a corner by ourselves. We are reluctant to ask the help of others in our time of need, or to reach out and touch anyone else by becoming involved in their needs.

Young children go through a stage that causes parents and grandparents to tear their hair. If you put two of the wiggly ones together in the back seat of a car or anywhere near each other, your ears ring with "She touched me!" or "Make him stop!" or "Get away from me!" Innocent or accidental contact becomes a major issue. That stage eventually passes, thank God. It's childish and immature.

But some people never get over that attitude, and in later years it may become more pronounced. Close physical contact through warm greetings is still common in Europe, in the Eastern world where the Bible was written, as well as in many other cultures. In the Western world, to our loss, we seem to have backed off from such expressions. Even in Christian relationships we bend over backward to be cool, controlled, and distant. Often we lack the spontaneity of expressing love among brothers and sisters in Christ.

Thank the Lord, there seems to be an increasing thaw of more loving expression during times of spiritual revival or during the renewing work of the Holy Spirit in our churches. Now we have more touching, holding another's hands during prayer, and holy hugging that expresses genuine Christian love and care. Human beings need purely motivated physical contact with others. We're told that newborns isolated from touching and warm embrace or cuddling in their early months are not as healthy or well-adjusted as those lovingly held and touched.

Some Christians wear a spiritual isolation mask almost as large as the old-fashioned military gas mask. It sends the signal, "Don't invade my private space. I don't want your problems, and I'll take care of mine." This is the opposite of what the Bible encourages us to do. "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). The helping, edifying, encouraging and comforting aspects of the Body of Christ imply opening ourselves up to each other, of touching. Sometimes we need it, sometimes others need it. Some wear isolation masks because they've been hurt or violated in the past process of touching. They don't want to be vulnerable and expose their emotions to others. Sometimes we're too busy to involve ourselves in the needs of others.
Our isolation mask warns others: "No Trespassing!" Christians don't necessarily have to touch each other physically, although that has its warm benefits, but we do need to reach out and touch in the spirit. Touching in any manner may not come naturally to some of us, but the Lord will teach us as we do the touching. It is really Christ in us who wants to reach out through us to touch others in concern.

The mask of isolation is clumsy and unbecoming, especially to seasoned saints who have so much of life's experience and Christ-experience to share. Toss it aside.

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Let's reach out and touch and be willing to receive the caring touch of others in return.