Touch: More Than Just a Handshake
Words are heavy, but they have limits. You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but sometimes a person just needs to know they aren’t standing alone in the dark. Physical touch—the appropriate, respectful kind—is a tool God gave us to bridge the gap when words run dry. It’s about presence over performance.
God Isn’t Distant
We don’t serve a God who sits behind a desk crunching numbers or watching from a safe distance. He showed up in the flesh. Christ didn’t just shout healing from a podium; He reached out and touched the leper. He held children. He let the broken get close enough to feel His presence.
If the Creator of the universe used His hands to communicate dignity and compassion, we should probably stop overthinking it and start being more present for the people in our lives.
Boundaries and Love
Respect is the baseline. Love isn’t about pushing past someone’s discomfort or demanding access. It’s about discernment. Not everyone experiences touch the same way, and true care means knowing when to offer a hand on a shoulder and when to just sit quietly in the same room.
As the Word says in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” That includes how we respect the personal space of others.
Strength in Vulnerability
Offering comfort can feel awkward. It makes you vulnerable. But carrying each other’s burdens isn’t always about solving a problem with a lecture; sometimes it’s just a firm grip on a hand that says, “I’m here.”
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2
The Bottom Line
We live in a world that’s distorted what touch means, making people fearful or cynical. We don’t need to be afraid. We just need to be attentive. Whether it’s Christy or a friend going through the wringer, showing up and being present is what matters.
It’s not about touching more; it’s about loving better. Keep it simple. Keep it honest. Be there.