Bright Spot: Americans starving for a touch in a distant world
Do you remember how much physical contact you had with your father? Often dads are so busy making a living they don’t make much time with their kids.
The tiniest tykes get the least attention. One study done some years ago proved the average father only spent one minute a day with their preschool children.
Dads, that’s just sad. Relevant is the quote: “No one on their deathbed wishes they would have spent more time at work.”
Yet we take our work with us when we come home and even on vacation. I just viewed someone’s vacation pictures that showed most people in a swanky restaurant looking at their phones while ignoring others at their table. Want to bet many of those looking at those high tech extensions of their hands were working?
Do you remember the first time you shook someone’s hand, or tried to, when COVID-19 restrictions started lifting? Shaking hands has always been a terrible germ spreader.
Do I lean in for the more personal hug? Risky behavior in a “MeToo” world. There’s always the fatherly pat on the back. My advanced age more than qualifies me for that. The fist bump is a favorite of mine. However, I’ve had many slap my fist away mocking me for trying to be hip.
I’ve never ranked high on the “hip scale.” The high five? Ditto.
How about just a wave and a smile? Pretty awkward if they’re extending their hand. So do I just follow the other person’s lead? I’m sooo confused!
COVID has led to many studies on the critical importance of human touch. A study out of Texas Medical Center found that people are experiencing what they termed “touch starvation,” caused by the lack of human contact brought on by the pandemic.
“Touch starvation increases stress, depression and anxiety, triggering a cascade of negative physiological effects,” the study says. Touch starvation stands in stark contrast to the general belief that social media meets most of our need for connection and community.
It does not.
The study found even the minimal contact we have by being together in a room is very vital. Think live church attendance. Brian Wind says, “(Touch) signals safety, trust and a sense of belonging.” Human touch is a part of true community.
The ministry of Jesus sets an example for us. He could have imparted all his wisdom and healing at a distance. Yet, the Bible reveals otherwise:
“Jesus reached out and touched him … ’Be healed!’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared.” – Matthew 8:3 NLT
“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘because of your faith, it will happen.'” – Matthew 9:29 NLT
“As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed everyone.” – Luke 4:40 NLT
The classic biblical text on healing shows physical contact was closely connected to healing prayer: “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil [requiring closeness and contact] in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well” (James 5:14-15).
The point – the more we have been in isolation, the more the need for touching has grown. What simple changes do we need to make to apply science and Scripture in order to bring more hope, help and health to others?
Father’s Day is a great time to implement those changes ... permanently, regardless of pandemics.
Rick Sams is pastor emeritus at Alliance Friends Church.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Bright Spot: Americans starving for a touch in a distant world
