Early in the week I had the privilege of getting a physical. I guess they don't call them "physical exams" anymore. The current terminology is "wellness visit."
After checking in at reception, I sat down in the lobby and waited for the fun. Looking around I noticed several little hygiene stations with facial tissues and hand sanitizers. Alcohol-free, fragrance-free, foaming hand sanitizers. There were even instructions on how to cough properly.
I reminded me of something that happened four or five months ago. As I was walking through the office one afternoon I noticed an Eritrean friend I hadn't seen in a while. We greeted one another, reciprocrating the usual half hug, half back pat, hand shake, touch your heart salutation. "How have you been doing?" Followed by, "I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been?"
Habtom said he'd been doing well but was still adjusting to his new life in America and learning English. "Why aren't you working today?" I asked. "I can't work. I have TB!" He replied matter of factly. TB?! As in tuberculosis!? As in, historically one of the greatest causes of death in the US?! That TB?! My mind flashed back to the handshake and the hug we had shared as greeting. Even as Habtom continued talking I was calculating the distance to the closest soap, sink and hot water and just how long it would take me to get there. I confess I have no idea what else he said. I was out of there! I'm pretty ashamed about that.
Our example, Jesus, had no problem getting dirty down here on Earth. In fact, it seems that a majority of His work took place in the trenches, where the not-so-antiseptic folk lived and breathed....and died. Here are just a few examples:
"And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, 'Woman, you are freed from your disability.' And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God." Luke 13:11-13
"And He came and took her (Peter's mother-in-law) by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her..." Mark 1:31
"And behold, a leper came to Him and knelt before Him, saying, 'Lord, if You will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed ." Matthew 8:2-3
"...when the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose." Matthew 9:25
"And taking him aside from the crowd privately, He put His fingers into his ears...and his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Mark 7:33,35
"And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, 'No more of this!' And He touched his ear and healed him." Luke 22:50-51
"Then Jesus laid His hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." Mark 8:2God-in-flesh specialized in the ministry of touch. How amazing! He is not some far away spectator. Jesus got down and dirty on behalf of humanity. Guess what! He is STILL doing it TODAY. Guess what else! He expects us to get messy also. Let's get busy Church. There's lot to be done. There's a lot of people that need your/His touch.
*Note: I later learned from his case manager that Habtom's TB test only indicated he'd been exposed to the Tuberculosis bacteria. He did not have the disease and was not infectious at the time of our meeting. Habtom is doing well, still has a job and is still working on his English. My Tigrinya on the other hand shows no sign of improvement.
