The church service was about reaching out. There is a story in the New Testament about a man with a withered hand, who is healed on the Sabbath. We do not know his name. Healing is a blessing, and for the man whose life had been hobbled, it was life changing. I have endured temporary hindrances, like a broken arm and a painful wrist. It gets in the way of quilting, playing guitar, brushing my teeth, and giving hugs. 

 

Jesus liberated the man in the temple in the presence of the pharisees. 

They did not share the man's joy. Instead, they were filled with "mindless rage". 
 

Such a harsh response to a man's life being dramatically improved is jarring. I cannot even ascribe it to jealousy, since their arms presumably worked just fine. 

 

I saw a video of a barber who offered a haircut to a homeless man. His beard and gray hair were straggly, which withered his self-image. After an hour in her chair, plus new duds, he felt indescribably better. It brought healing to his spirit. No one mentioned the day of the week. 

 

This morning I was responding to comments on Off the Left Eye, and felt yelled at. A video about how kindness is how we become more spiritual, as compared to our beliefs alone, made some readers mindlessly enraged. They hurled insults in my direction, which should not matter since they will never meet me, and do not know my name. And yet I felt bruised. 

 

I learn something both from being the one who needs healing, and the person who reaches out to offer help. It is my fervent prayer to never be the one in a mindless rage.