The Healing Touch

This thought from Henri Nouwen struck me yesterday.

These days, almost all of the people who offer this sort of healing touch live far away. But in the moments when we get to be together, I soak it in.

I used to be one of those people who hated hugs or touch. Somewhere along the way, I realized that a hug is one of the most healing and encouraging things in my world, and that, when I haven't had one for a long time, I am the worse for it.

I'm grateful to have people in my life who offer very healing hugs and touch, even when I can't collect on them very often.

The Healing Touch

Touch, yes, touch, speaks the wordless words of love. We receive so much touch when we are babies and so little when we are adults. Still, in friendship touch often gives more life than words. A friend's hand stroking our back, a friend's arms resting on our shoulder, a friend's fingers wiping our tears away, a friend's lips kissing our forehead --- these are true consolation. These moments of touch are truly sacred. They restore, they reconcile, they reassure, they forgive, they heal.

Everyone who touched Jesus and everyone whom Jesus touched were healed. God's love and power went out from him (see Luke 6:19). When a friend touches us with free, nonpossessive love, it is God's incarnate love that touches us and God's power that heals us.