Take a
look at the hand and tell me what you see?
Bones
covered by flesh,
Veins,
tendons, and ligaments,
Palm
and knuckles,
Four
fingers and a thumb.
Take a
deeper look and realize
That
the hand
Though
it might be dry and raw, wet and clammy, old and wrinkled,
Is so
much more
Than an
appendage located at the end of an arm.
The
hand is so special!
Ponder
on how it has served you through your years.
Think
of all the lives that the hand has and continues to touch
All the
things that the hand has done
All the
things that the hand can do.
The
hand is nurture
The
hand put food in the mouth and clothes on the back.
The
hand can cleanse and bandage a wound
The
hand can care for and encourage the growth of others.
The
hand is inspiration
The
hand can draw pictures and sculpt masterpieces
The
hand can compose music and write poetry
The
hand can influence others in so many ways.
The
hand is Justice
The
hand can shake in fist of anger when there is injustice
The
hand can write policies and wipe away tears
The
hand can and should always stand for what is right.
The
hand is love
The
hand can hug and caress others to show care
The
hand can console those that are in need
The
hand can show affection, appreciation, and passion.
The
hand is hope
Joined
by the other hand, they fold in prayer
To ask
for forgiveness, mercy and grace
The
hand is etched with Love.
Christopher
L. Desert
It
is my deepest desire to be able to make a difference in the world. I realize that I cannot change all the
despair that I encounter, I cannot erase all the hurt that many have been through.
But I want to make a difference....
I
thought I had a plan. Indeed, my
ultimate goal was to return to Haiti and work with women and children after my
graduate studies. It might still be the
case, but I am not so sure now. My
experience this year has been molding me.
I am sure that God has a plan, but I am not so certain of how God wants
me to serve Her people. It is confusing, challenging, and frustrating at time,
but I am learning to let go and let God!
As
a case manager for two of the residents at BARN, my role is to advocate for
them and their families, to help them get out of debt, help them set the
foundations for a better life while at BARN, and guide them in order for them
to transition into their own home. But
what does on do when the person does no want to help oneself? What does one do when there is a lack of
trust? What happens when one’s client
continue to fail? It is easy to give up.
It is easy to become pessimistic in such situation. But then, I am reminded as the body of Christ
on Earth, as the hand of God, we are called to be a blessing for the world. We are called to create God’s kingdom on
Earth. And I am finding out out that is
absolutely not going to be an easy task.
It takes patience and perseverance. And equally important, it takes
love.
While
I am ready to quickly change the situation (I want to do good and I want to
change to happen quickly), I am reminded that “the blessings of the world
starts small, grows silently, faces setbacks, but nevertheless permeates the
world with love.” I hope that my time with the people that I serve continues to
be a blessing to us all. I hope that no
matter how long it takes; I will be waiting and ready to wipe away the tears,
to care, and to encourage. I hope that
my hands will be present to nurture, to inspire, to love, and to hope. I hope that I can use my hands patiently to
co-create a just world…
Throughout
this Lenten Season, I hope that we can continue to pray for each other. Please pray that I may become a more
compassionate, merciful, and loving hand to the people that I serve. And I pray that God’s loving care continues
to be with you; I ask for God’s blessings as you minister to Her people.
Peace and
Blessed Lent,
Christina