Thursday, August 9, 2018

 If after reading the gist of today’s blog thinking “Hmm, that was pretty bizarre”, I won’t be surprised. However, I am who I am, and I feel one or more of you can relate to my way of thinking or at least understand it. I’ll try to explain. First, this question: Have you ever held someone or something so cute and adorable, perhaps a baby or a puppy, that your first impulse is to squeeze hard, even bite? Hoping I’m not the only weirdo, I pray more than one or two of you will say “Yes, I’ve felt those urges from time to time.” I’m not a psychologist, neither have I played one on TV or recently stayed at a Holiday Inn, but I believe some babies bite those who are carrying them as an expression of deep affection or joy for them. In other words, they can’t help it. Ever known any biting babies?

       This leads me to share with you one of my real and constant worries. I pray it is because of the love of Christ which lives in my heart, but I fall in love very easily with people, especially those who are part of my family at home and even in church. Because I love them so much, my first reaction is to hug them tightly, whether male or female. I fear, however, that one day, one may misinterpret the hug and take it to mean something impure. In a day when accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior are common, people who have the same emotional “flaw” as me, need to be very careful when interacting with others. Even with those who are members of my immediate family, I need to avail myself of the grace and self control of the Holy Spirit in order to resist the temptation to squeeze them too hard or even bite them.

       Perhaps I was led to this topic because I just read the account of the day when Jacob was finally reunited with his son Joseph. Genesis 46:29 reads: “So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.” (a long time) I also remembered the account of the day the prodigal son came back home. Luke 15:20 reads: “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (probably for a long time too) Because I have an unusual and imaginative mind, sometimes I wonder if Joseph or the prodigal son, or both, while in the tight long embrace of their fathers ever thought within themselves “Ok dad, that’s enough.” Perhaps we should keep that in mind next time we hug someone too tight or too long or even feel the urge to bite.

God’s word for today (Galatians 5:13) “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”