{"id":168,"date":"2011-03-17T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-03-17T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/blissblog\/2011\/03\/these-hands.html"},"modified":"2011-03-17T01:00:00","modified_gmt":"2011-03-17T01:00:00","slug":"these-hands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/03\/these-hands.html","title":{"rendered":"These Hands"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few years ago, my friend Naila Francis had asked those she knew to send her a poem called These Hands <\/em><\/strong>that would describe the ways in which we used our hands in our day to day lives. It was a beautiful mindfulness exercise for me and on occasion now, I bring to my awareness of what it is that we are capable of doing with these appendages that can be both healing or hurting, depending on intention.<\/font><\/p>\n

These hands held a tiny baby bird and ferried it from a window-sill at Blockbuster video into a tree across a parking lot, so it could await the return of its family. I was assured by a woman who works at a bird sanctuary, that opposed to legend, mama birds do not reject their young if humans have touched them.<\/font><\/font><\/font>.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands stroked wrinkled brows as transition neared from one form of life to another, while I was a nursing home social worker. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands have caressed lovers throughout the years, delighting both of us.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands dig deeply into the earth, planting seeds that blossomed into exquisitely beautiful flowers.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands tap on computer keyboards, expressing God-language in poetry and prose.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands celebrate joyously as they clap to acknowledge inspired performances by artists, musicians, speakers, dancers and actors.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands held those of my husband for 5 \u00bd weeks while he was in a coma and grasped them tightly and then gently released them when he made his journey into the Light.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands offer loving Reiki energy and massage to those who are willing to receive.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands grasp on to others as we spin in a spiral dance to celebrate our connection with the Divine.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands comfort mourning friends and family at the death of loved ones.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands enfold others as we gaze into each other’s eyes, seeing beyond the person before me and recognizing the kindred spirit.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands prepare food that nourishes body, mind and spirit.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands turn the steering wheel to avoid hitting the deer who leapt in front of the car.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands stretch skyward when I am dancing in ecstasy.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands fold in prayer pose as I offer Namaste’ to those whose paths I cross.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands glide a miniature wooden rake across a Zen meditation garden to reduce stress.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

These hands play in soapy water as I wash the dishes, feeling the squeaky clean surface of a cobalt blue plate.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands join with others as we sit around the table blessing the food of which we are about to partake and those who have prepared it.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands scratch the ‘traveling itch’ on my son Adam’s back.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands soothe away my own tension after a long day.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands provide a platform from which to blow kisses.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands apply clown make-up to my face as I transform into “Feather”.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands gladly write checks that are embellished with nature scenes, because my creditors trust me with their services in anticipation of payment.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

These hands tap out a heart-beat rhythm on a drum, in time with creation.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

These hands support my body on my purple ‘magic carpet’ a.k.a. yoga mat as I place it in downward facing dog asana.<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands eagerly pull on purple moon and star flannel pajamas to comfort me against the cold winter night.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands welcome new friends.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands cup the faces of dear ones.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands enfold those of the couples I marry, offering a blessing to seal the wedding ceremony.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands pile bundles of newspapers to put out for recycling.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These hands are connected to my heart.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What do your hands do?<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sharing a beautiful song by Jewel, called Hands<\/em><\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n

http:\/\/youtu.be\/f5gQeA5uETU<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n


 <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

In the end, only kindness matters~
<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few years ago, my friend Naila Francis had asked those she knew to send her a poem called These Hands that would describe the ways in which we used our hands in our day to day lives. 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