By Sister Mary Lee Hansen, OSU

I am sitting in chapel trying to keep focused on Christ. My thoughts wonder and wander. For some unknown reason I put my hand out in front of me. Stretch one of your hands out in front of you. Turn it upward. Yes, there are probably some crooked fingers and a number of lines of life in the palm no doubt. I ask myself: What has my hand done these days during the confinement of COVID-19? Oh no, not just accomplishments, but what has it done for others besides myself?

God has given me this simple gift. I need not touch my neighbor physically. This hand, through the power of touch, brings healing, love and comfort. How? Has it done so? All Christ asks of me is that I love my neighbor as myself. You probably are saying to yourself, as I am, that we are not to touch anyone during this pandemic. It is too dangerous. So how can I touch another? I ask Christ. Have you noticed the media coverage of helping hands? Volumes of pictures reveal the multitudes of common folk like you and me lending a helping hand, but not touching another person.

I am awed by the ways people have used this simple gift during these traumatic weeks and months. Are you one of those who inspire me to write, call and text or creatively do something for my neighbor? I am sure you are letting God guide you. Mother Teresa told us she was just a pencil in the hand of God. Let us, together, be a bundle of pencils, too, for good. Just ask God to help you. Remember Michelangelo’s ceiling painting of God the Father’s finger stretched out to humankind?  Put your hand out and let God touch yours. Just hope and trust and it will happen, I assure you.

Oh my, it is breakfast time. But before I go, here is my prayer for you today: May your hand perform many deeds of love.

“I am a little pencil in God’s hands. He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything and sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil and He has to sharpen it a little more.”

 — Saint Teresa of Calcutta