LET PEOPLE TOUCH YOU

Acts 14:8-10

In Lystra there was a man who had been born with crippled feet and had never been able to walk. The man was listening to Paul speak, when Paul saw that he had faith in Jesus and could be healed. So he looked straight at the man and shouted, “Stand up!” The man jumped up and started walking around.

Nagkatinginan lang sila. Habang nagsasalita si Paul, may isang lumpong nakatitig sa kanya nang may pananalig. Nakita siya ni Paul at sinabi nya, “Nananalig ka. Maglakad ka.” At nakalakad yung tao. Hindi ka lang titingin at mag-uusyoso kung ano ang itsura. Pakikiramdaman mo kung ano yung ikino-communicate nya. The disciples of the Lord were empowered by the power and spirit of Jesus to touch through words, their hands, even just the eyes. We can touch people through media, the cellphone, e-mail, or gifts.

But very importantly, let people touch you. Huwag kayong maglagay ng mga walls. Katulad, halimbawa, ng pagsuot ng kadilim-dilim na sunglasses. Unless ayaw mo lang masilaw ng araw at nagpapa-cute ka lang, you’re actually saying, “I don’t like to look at you, I don’t want you to see me looking at you, and I don’t want you to look into my eyes.” Umiiwas tayong makipagtinginan.

We should learn to touch and be touched in a way that is not improper and that will promote Christian love and friendship. The Lord was forever touching people and was also being touched. We were created by God needing and wanting to reach out, and be touched. When that cannot happen visibly, it has to happen another way. Build bridges, not walls.