Thanksgiving is special. It comes to our entire nation without the distractions of presents, or chocolate bunnies. It is a day, when even those who are only beginning to seek the Creator turn their thoughts towards heaven and if only for a brief moment before their meal, remember to be thankful to the One who gives all life’s blessings. Today, no matter where you are on faiths road, we all rejoice together. Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of you!
Lifting Up Holy Hands
“I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”~ 1 Timothy 2:8
Years ago, before learning about the Orthodox Church, worship services included raising our hands up in praise as we sang songs of thanksgiving, submission, and praise. It was always an emotional experience, a physical expression of offering oneself to God as Lord. Few Orthodox practice the raising of hands during an Orthodox liturgy. Even so, it is less vibrant in form, with hands raised to a bit less than shoulder height, and lasting only about 15 seconds.
I missed this often since becoming Orthodox, but in reflecting about the loss, I began to understand more than I imagined. The word holy means set aside for God. If our hands are holy, then they are set aside especially for God’s purposes. Resting hands relax by our sides, on our laps, or draped on a convenient armrest. When it is time to put them to work, we lift them.
To lift holy hands is to put our hands to use for God’s purposes. Working for him, without wrath or doubting makes more sense in this context than it did in that of a praise service. Imagining praise with wrath is too challenging to imagine. Therefore, teach us Lord to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands serving You without wrath or doubt, and thank You for Your lessons as You mold us in your image.
Why Fast?
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
It is only the second day of the Advent Fast, and the journey has begun. The reasons for fasting are much more important than overcoming the challenges of vegan meal planning, or resisting cravings. Satisfying our physical desires at will, or not to do so is an ongoing choice for the next 40 days. It is to weigh the desire to be fully Christ’s servant in contrast to ruling our own lives. We practice giving up our selves for him, just as He did for us.
The enemy finds a battleground in our fasting, and he works to encourage us to give up the fight. He knows the rewards we gain, how enriched our lives are with Christ. In pressing forward, we gain strength and blessed wisdom and charity.
It is a blessed time, as we become skilled warriors trained by God, humbled, learning more about him, and practicing charity so it might become the essence of our own nature. It is appropriate to greet one another wishing them a “Blessed Fast!” May your journey be one that matters!
thepaintedhawk 