His Hand.

People often tell me "God has his hand on your life." To which I agree. I know there is a different, specific calling that God beckons within me. Its something unlike many other people, and I feel him in unique and sometimes tangible ways. Within this realm, the distinct collection of giftings he has given me are profound and sacred in their own ways.

But as I drove home under the April solace last night, after much laughter and sharing with my church's community group -- has anyone seen a fifty year old engineer dance?! it's amazing! -- a new revelation dawned on me. God has his hand on all of us.

No one is more unique in this.

Instead, I think perhaps, it's about whether we are able and willing to submit to the leading of his hand and be softened by his touch and grasp.

Kind of like a child under the parent hand - some fight and wither, some stand in submissive sigh, and others respond to the gentle and yielding touch -- turning and responding, looking to the face of the father and listening for guidance, then taking in the words and tone to follow his leading.

I think we are all like this child. We all are under the hand of the Father. We all respond in different ways, in different times, in different tones. But nonetheless, it is our choice to how we respond to his hand. Will we yield to it, submit to his gentle touch? Will we turn around and look up into his face, acknowledging him as the leader of our lives? Will we allow ourselves to be soothed and guided under the tender touch? Will we let him be the leader of our lives?

His hand is on all of us. None more unique. Just more profound in our response.

~~~
Its a day later than I wrote this post, and I have been thinking and wondering on it... does God call us all the same? Or does he still work like the Old Testament where he specifically called and gifted prophets? Or is the New Testament and more based on our response to him, like the disciples being ordinary men?