“Have you had your hug today?”
This was a question I heard for years, when I used to go to work as a flight attendant. I looked forward to seeing this co-worker. I didn’t get hugs in my daily life, and craved contact with another human being. Those hugs were like therapy. I could feel my body relax and fill with new strength.
It’s so sad that the world has changed so much since those days. We can’t touch anyone without worrying about being charged with some form of harassment. There are countless people walking around us, with no non-sexual contact with another person. Love starved and lonely in a sea of people. This isn’t how we are meant to live.
This last weekend I had the joy of participating in a conference at our church. The guest speakers were from an organization called The Healing Rooms. What really hit me was how we live in a world of no human contact. At the last meeting I could feel the love of Jesus start taking over me. It is such a healing and powerful force. I had to take it further. Giving hugs became natural. What struck me was how many people that I hugged didn’t know how to really react at first. When you start to hold someone, heart to heart, there is a connection that is powerful. After a few seconds I could feel the walls coming down, and the bodies relaxing. Some even would break down and weep.
I avoided hugs for years. Being touched by another human being makes us vulnerable. And it’s hard to let our defenses down. What if that person takes advantage of us? What if I let myself go, and get hurt?
It takes 10 hugs a day to keep a person going. What do we use for fuel these days? We use countless cups of caffeine and hours of workouts. Have to get those endorphins moving.
I am challenging myself and YOU to start a love revolution. Get those 10 hugs a day. For your own health and for the health of those around you. Obviously we need to be careful, but when we approach with a pure heart and pure intention we can spread love in a powerful way. Let’s start with our friends and family. But if you see someone who is hurting, ask them if you can give them a hug…and give them one. If you worry about someone misinterpreting the love, make sure that there are other people around to witness it. But don’t let fear get a hold of you. That is a lie that we have taken too far. People need hugs! Yes, even those who don’t look like they want one. Especially them.
Use your arms….the whole length of them. None of this half hug stuff. Hold them for at least 5 to 10 seconds. You will feel a powerful surge of love and emotion. Let yourself enjoy it. Say a prayer of thanks or blessing on this person that you hugging. Tell them that they are loved, and watch and feel this person change.
Watch yourself change.
Let’s see what we can do with this world. Can you imagine how we can change others, and ourselves, by offering love and human contact? What Would Jesus Do? was a question that we used to ask ourselves. There were bracelets and bumper stickers printed. If you look at the life of Jesus, he spent his time touching people. He was the epitome of love and acceptance. His touch was powerful and healing. Let’s use that healing power of touch and love today…and watch the world around you change.
“One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?” Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.” (Mark 12:28-31 MSG)
“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” (1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG)