A New Posture of Worship

What do you do with your hands during worship-time at church? I usually vacillate between gently beating out the tempo on the back of the pew in front of me, putting them in my back pockets if I'm wearing jeans, or occasionally lifting them up when something moves me.

Yesterday, I had a different experience. At the new church I've been attending, they offer hot beverages - and while usually only a "social" tea drinker, coming in from the bitter cold I welcomed having a steaming cup of tea to warm my hands.

As I joined in the worship time, my hands stayed wrapped around this fount of warmth, and taking the occasional sip I felt my whole body warming up. Singing words of seeking God and surrendering to God felt different from this posture - my hands were folded and still, but also open to receive and be filled. It felt as if I was offering something of myself up to God, and God was filling me in all parts of my being; symbolized by the warmth spreading throughout my body.

This gave me pause because for the first time in a long time I truly felt like I was being poured into, that I was receiving the spiritual nourishment that I hadn't even realized I'd been missing. But with a mug in my hands, I recognized that - and I was grateful.

What my hands probably looked like...
Courtesy of Beauty Haven