Every good Jew in the time of Jesus knew that you prayed with open hands, understanding that it was God who gave when we asked. To live with open hands is to trust in the possible, the unknown, to lean toward something outside and bigger than your present situation. Jesus taught this way from what I can remember, saying things like: ask seek knock. And even what has been come to be called the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ is prefaced with the awareness that God knows what you are going to ask before you ask it. With this in mind there is at least something to lean into. A presences that wants to intersect with us-to rescue us from self-love and confusion.
Jesus said a number of things from the cross as he hung with open hands. He said, “It is finished,” which is a big deal because that is what God said when creation was complete and John is making a point about new creation. New creation? In the face of death? Jesus also prayed a psalm from the cross. He started, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” I know it is a grusome image, but open handed pieced he prayed awaiting intervention, rescue, hope. The end of Psalm 22 lands with the one crying out being redeemed and vindicated, such was Jesus’ in the resurrection.
I want to live resurrection, open handed. I ate for free a few times this week, and I have no money-it was great. Feeling safe in the lack of secure living. But I fear I am often frozen fisted. Stubburn, frustrated and wondering and loosing a kind of wonder that animates much of what I have experienced for years. The storms come and instead of saying hello and charging, I go around. But there are a few things on my mind that have rushed to the forefront of my person. They involve danger and risk… trying to walk with open hands but I might be holding on. To comfort and to everything to tight. But someone was praying the other night with me and in so doing- I was losening my grip.
