handedly

what’s in a hand?
a limb, a tool, an interface.
for reaching, for meeting the world, the internal interfacing with the external, a barrier making a connecting point.
the same hands that cling can receive, they grasp or release.
same hands that harm can care, they separate or connect.
it’s a push, pull.

what’s in my hand?
the posture of my heart affects the action of my hands,
and the posture of my heart influenced by what’s in my hands.
the grasp pattern is determined by the object to be grasped.
meet delicate with delicate,
power with power.
open-handed to the shape of what’s coming for me
reaching out in response to a longing within,
then action and sensation meet at the crossroads of the touch.
hand-in-hand.
i touch it, it touches me.
i receive it, it receives me.
to what do i cling?
towards what do i reach?
what’s demanded from what i hold?
what’s the invitation from what i behold?

handily,
i touch him, he touches me.
i receive him, he receives me.
hand-in-hand, there’s a dance at play.
woe to me if i believe i play the lead.
the rhythm is mine to receive.
then a pull to participate.
an gentle tug to lean in, stay close.
hand-in-hand, relenting to the dance.
turn with the turns,
feel being felt,
hold the gaze to hold steady.
the lord of the dance is at hand.
now, just take hold.

handed,
now from being held,
you can turn to hold.
from the gift
you can give.
from a filling of empty,
to a pouring out.
what was withered and weathered,
now whole and held,
to be used and shared.
the reaching, grasping, connecting
now safe, stable, and sacred.
because the touch was once touched,
the hand pre-held.
the rhythm has been calibrated,
the tone fine-tuned,
and the dance carries on,
hand to hand.

further...
psalm 4:5b - “the Lord is at hand…”
psalm 138:7,8
psalm 90:17
isaiah 41:10