Thursday, June 25 was a national celebration of something that takes place every Sunday in churches all across the world. We will see plenty of it this morning. June 25th was National Handshake Day.
Oh, I know that the germaphobes cringe at the thought of gripping the unwashed, unsanitized hand of another person. “You don’t know where that hand has been! You can’t be too careful!” And, yet, for centuries the handshake has been around, dating all the way back to Bible days. I don’t know that anyone has died from a handshake, nor can I say that it’s been proven that a particular illness or hospitalization was a direct result of a handshake. I could be wrong about that, though.
And wasn’t 2020 an awful time for the church?!? So much changed due to the fears that gripped our nation. Social distancing kept us from the physical contact we need. Personally, I love the time at church when we go around shaking hands. This friendly gesture supplies an opening and the physical contact helps convey warmth and friendship.
Miryam Roddy, on behalf of BRODY Professional Development, says that “This gesture is key to first impressions and relationships.”1 You learn a lot about a person from a handshake. The handshake can be a warm, friendly expression that is appreciated, making you feel loved and wanted. Then, there’s the other kinds of handshakes that help to enforce the reservations of the anti-handshakers.
There’s always that person who thinks they are funny and likes to give your hand a yank, pulling you off balance and causing you embarrassment. If you are that person, we beg you to please stop. It’s not funny and the sudden, unexpected jolt of being pulled has caused others pain. Speaking from experience, I’ve had that happen as the fire of nerves shoots up your spine.
Then, there’s the individual who grips your hand and pulls you almost nose to nose with them. Have you ever caught yourself digging in your heels so that they can’t? Personal space is an important thing.
Of course, you have the individual who will pump your hand with great enthusiasm as if they are trying to pump water from an old well. I don’t know if that is nervousness or excitement when they do that. A cousin to this handshake is the person who thinks you are both sawing a log, working your hand back and forth instead of up and down.
There are those who go from handshaking to handholding. They don’t let go and hold you for an uncomfortable amount of time. You don’t want to be rude and jerk your hand away, but you also don’t want to stay in that position. Oh, what a dilemma!
We all have stories that could be shared. I remember my dad early on teaching me to “shake like a man.” None of that wimpy stuff. Put ‘er there! While I completely agree and am kind of grossed out especially by guys without a grip, I also know that there are those with arthritis or other hand issues that cannot grip. Most women have very delicate hands, and we definitely don’t want to shake a woman’s hand like a man. That’s understandable and that is nothing to feel bad about. The rest of us just need to be conscious and careful.
Galatians 2:9 gives us the Biblical example of something we do whenever someone joins the church. “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
As we shake hands today, take a moment to think through the message delivered in the handshake. Think about the shoulders you hug and the arms you pat.
There aren’t a lot of Bible verses dealing with handshaking so I’m going to close today with a song from the Kingsmen Quartet that was written and performed many years ago. I know it will bring a smile to those who remember it. If you’ve never heard it, listen to it at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQqGwk-18zk
1st Verse
I’ve never had much, in this world below
But I’m going to a city, where the streets are pure gold
Christ made me an heir; I’m the child of a king
Shake hands with a poor boy, who owns everything
2nd verse
I’m depending on heaven, for my home in the sky
Already I’m heading, for that sweet bye and bye
But I’ve been adopted, and placed with a king
Shake hands with a poor boy, who owns everything
Chorus:
Shake hands with a poor boy, and how do you do
Have you met my Father? He cares about you
He’s the king of all glory, His praises I’ll sing
Shake hands with a poor boy, who owns everything
1https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-handshake-day-last-thursday-in-june
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