Handle with Care
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well
Psalm 139:14
Recently, I have become reacquainted with death and these deaths have caused me to think about the nature of life. How are we to approach life? When I think about the nature of our lives, the word delicate comes to mind. Delicate has three different definitions. First, something that is delicate is very fine in texture, of intricate workmanship. Second, something that is delicate can become damaged and/or easily broken. Third, something that is delicate requires careful and sensitive handling. These definitions of delicate are fitting for understanding the nature of life.
Life is an intricate workmanship. In other words, life is beautiful. When I think about life—human beings and nature, I am drawn to the beauty of it all. The vibrant colors of spring flowers. The vastness of the ocean. The missing-toothed smile of a five year old. The gorgeous texture and detail of skin wrinkled with age. All around us, is beauty. Yet in the midst of this beauty, life can become damaged or easily broken. Our bodies, not made to last forever, are vulnerable to sickness and disease. We experience pain and discomfort. We are fragile, even on our strongest days, and from time to time, our spirits become weak and bend under the weight of life’s burdens. And here is where the third definition of delicate becomes important. Life requires careful and sensitive handling. It is important to take good care of ourselves and each other.
I like to buy fresh-cut flowers at the grocery store. Whenever I buy fresh cut flowers from the grocery store, I am so careful about where I place the flowers in my cart. With every item placed in my cart, I maneuver the flowers around. I want my flowers to be as beautiful when I get them home as they are in the store. Yet, as beautiful as the flowers are, they are also easily damaged, so I move them not only to preserve their beauty, but also to keep them strong and healthy. Life is like those flowers. Beautiful, vulnerable, and in need of lots of love and care.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah