By Deacon Gregory M. Kirk
St. Joseph Catholic Church
So there I was, at the checkout, in a large grocery store in Ontario, Ohio, feeling a little harried and dazed. The associate running my groceries under the price detector was much faster than I was in my unloading. Additionally, our seventeen year old son Tony was helping me. Tony had selected some grocery items that he wanted, some that we had discussed while shopping, and a few others I was discovering at the checkout!
“Sir, one of your twelve packs of diet soda has an empty can in it, do you want another one?” I responded to the young woman who was bagging my groceries that yes, I would.
“Dad, watch that guy bagging, he’s incredible,” Tony whispered behind me, as the young woman left to retrieve my soda. At the same time, the checkout associate was asking for my Plus card. While I was waiting to receive my card back, a young man’s voice from the bagging area of the counter surfaced, “Where did she go? No problem, I’ll get you.”
I turned, and encountered the young man Tony was trying to tell me about. He was the quickest, most efficient bagger I have ever seen work. His work ethic spoke for itself. I was transfixed, unable to move or speak. This bagger didn’t have hands – he was bagging my groceries and placing them in the cart with arms that ended well before where wrists should have been. He worked, wearing a consistent, dazzling smile.
The young man finished the job with a “there you go.” All checkout lines were loaded, a customer was directly behind me, wanting to unload her cart. There was no time to introduce myself to the young man, to ask his name, or to ask what happened to his arms. Instead, I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and managed to share with him, “That’s one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen. You have a lot of faith.”
“Not really,” he shared humbly with a smile. Then he shot off to help someone else.
As I pushed my cart toward the door, Tony was already extolling the young man’s character, work ethic, courage, and skill (his enthusiasm ran unabated all the way back to Galion!). Listening to Tony, I realized I had just witnessed one of the most beautiful and powerful sermons ever – a sermon that didn’t need a single word to convey the value of faith, and hope.
As I began putting my groceries in the car, the sermon I had just witnessed inside of the store led my thoughts in two different directions.
First, I thought of the hands of Jesus, and how He used His hands as a carpenter to create, and how He used them as Messiah to bless, to console, and to heal.
I then looked at the back of my hands, and realized that I take my physical wholeness for granted.
Next, I was struck by some big questions. Do I use my hands to create, or to tear down? Do I consistently use them to bless? Are they the hands of a peacemaker? Are they potentially the hands of a healer?
The image of human hands is often a metaphor for the human spirit, and sometimes, even Divine Spirit. The term, “the finger of God,” speaks of God’s creative power. Celebrated artists and musicians often “insure” their hands – in these cases, hands are closely tied to the human spirit. After all, Beethoven’s compositions originated in his mind and heart, not with his hands.
And then my thoughts traveled back to the young man who bagged my groceries. He does not have hands but he does have an incredible spirit, a strong, courageous heart, and an obviously strong will. I was tempted to tell Tony that the young man will be a great success some day. I stopped without expressing it – the realization hit me – this young man is an amazing success now, in his daily living.
I phoned the grocery store the next day and shared with the store manager my deep appreciation for the great service I received the evening before. After describing the bagger, the manager knew exactly who I was talking about.
The bagger’s name is “Ian.” I learned he is a college student, and a high school wrestling coach. This news brought a smile – it didn’t surprise me at all.
Ian will live in my heart as a reminder to look for the positive, rather than complain. He will reinforce my inclination to never give up, and to never give in, especially when I’m confronted with challenge or injustice. Ian will always speak to me of the power of belief over circumstance. He puts a “face” on living with faith and hope.
Please look at your hands from time to time, and reflect on how fortunate you are to have them. And if you follow Christ as Savior, please consider dedicating your hands, and your spirit, to His service. He has no hands but yours.
Having no hands is not an obstacle for Jesus though. He lives, loves, blesses and heals, through the human spirit. A young man named Ian recently reminded me of this. He is quite a preacher, and I bet, a formidable wrestler!