I know I would not want to go through it every week; however, playing one of the hosts to my parent’s 50th anniversary party once in a lifetime was just fine. Working the crowd for a few hours was quite different from what I anticipated; it went more quickly and was more interesting than one could ever anticipate. Naturally, as is the custom at a gathering such as this, there were more hugs than one would want, need, or expect.
By the end, I actually began to categorize the different types of greetings exchanged between men and women. The range is enormous! Once faced the semi-icy limp handshake all the way through to the gripping body hug that virtually strayed across the boundary of the familiar. With some allowances to personal styles and preferences, it was interesting to match up the type of hug to what I know of the individuals, their working styles, ethics, and willingness to dialogue in an open manner.
Many people know the South as a place where paradoxes abound. On one hand, there is still talk about a person’s word being their bond and better than any legal contract. In contrast, the con artist is alive and well in the South. I often find it difficult to understand just how one discerns the difference between the two. They look and behave in very similar ways. Participants often smile and talk the same way. On one hand, the participants are staking their reputations; in contrast, with the other, one is lining his pockets at the partner’s expense.
I reflect and I see myself in a mirror with God. At times, I am open to a candid and intimate hug with God. On other occasions, I am closed and icy. I am learning that my own body language tells a story. “An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead, but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.” (Proverbs 10.10) The leading indicator, key is you like, is being absolutely, totally, and completely open.
What kind of hug will happen with God today?
