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Cupcake Hands
by Jeff Ferris Did Jesus smell like cupcakes? Probably not. I have, quite often. It's been happening a lot lately every time I go into a restaurant with my wife. I have to admit that I'm rather fond of cupcakes. But, if I had my choice, I'd prefer to smell like them for obvious reasons, acquired through traditional measures, earned the old-fashioned way by actually eating cupcakes. This isn't the case, however. Instead, this aroma is perpetrated by the scented hand sanitizer my wife carries in her purse. Everyone totes a bottle of it with them these days. We never leave home without it. Granted, it's an act of good hygiene, an investment in favorable health, a display of wisdom in fending off the germs and contaminants our world has to offer. Yet, it seems there was a time when dirty hands were something we appreciated. At least they weren't the dread that they appear to be today. For that reason we have developed an obsession with the ever-convenient array of hand sanitizers. Hence, many among us walk around smelling like cupcakes. Gone is the day when we respected those who were not afraid to get some grime under their fingernails. Callused palms were a display of character. Scraped knuckles and a splinter or two were evidence of a strong work ethic. But, today, we smell like cupcakes. Jesus didn't smell like cupcakes. He soiled His fingers with a mix of dirt and saliva to heal a blind man. He touched lepers. He reached out to sinners. He embraced those who were dirty and contagious. How is it then that we don't want to get involved? Why is it that we are content with sterile hands? Sure, there is risk of contamination. The world is a germy place, after all. Reaching out can bring contact with a virus. Touching lives can result in dirty fingers. But, what do we have to fear? There is a limitless supply of hand sanitizer, literally at our fingertips; including that which smells like cupcakes. (This article was published in Pathway Christian Newspaper April 2011) www.pathwaycn.com email Jeff Ferris at: [email protected] or [email protected] Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |