When Jennifer from Bishopdale’s Bishop Sutton Library handed me this book, I thought about a good friend who says hugging is so important. Especially so for those who find themselves single due to life experiences, like the death of a loved one. I do not like to be touched, and am aware of this with a lot of friends who consider it a good way of welcoming with a hug and the statement, “I know you don’t like to be touched, but…”
Lore writes:
My ultimate goal is this: I want to make you think about how you touch, who you touch, why you touch, where you touch and what you touch – but never to tell you how, who, why, where, when or what to touch. As Paul David Tripp says, “we cannot simply offer people a system or give advice on how to deal with their past. We must point them to the powerful Redeemer. He is our only hope.” My aim is to point you to Christ and implore you to think about how He was touched and touched others, and to allow His actions and His love for you to bear weight on how you give and receive touch.1
This is very much my experience in reading Handle with Care. The challenge of the theology of Jesus' life and touch – those he touched and those who touched him.
The recurring themes of the giver and receiver of touch, the challenge of sexual touch, friendship touch and even self-touch (for the healing of our bodies) were both thought-provoking and eye-opening.
Lore’s gentle way of bringing her story into the discussion and never using it to tell the reader what to do is refreshing. The walk Lore has had with living as the only girl in a big family, abuse and her struggle with miscarriage, finding her belief in different church environments also gave a mirror for me to understand my faith journey.
The big question for me is: do I recommend reading this and to whom?
It is not a “wow” book, nor a book that will justify your beliefs around touch, but I have been changed. I have been challenged to reappraise how I view touch in both my personal and ministry life. So yes, it is a book that I would recommend to both male and female readers on both a personal and a ministry journey and hope you are challenged gently like me to consider both how you give and receive touch.
Your matter matters. My matter matters.
Every body matters. Everybody matters.
Remember you are embodied.
Remember who indwells you – that you house the Holy Spirit.
Remember whose you are. Remember who loves you. Remember to whom you are going
Go, you who have been touched by the love of God, for the glory of God, touch and be touched.2
1 Page 31.
2 Page 231.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
When Jennifer from Bishopdale’s Bishop Sutton Library handed me this book, I thought about a good friend who says hugging is so important. Especially so for those who find themselves single due to life experiences, like the death of a loved one. I do not like to be touched, and am aware of this with a lot of friends who consider it a good way of welcoming with a hug and the statement, “I know you don’t like to be touched, but…”
Lore writes:
My ultimate goal is this: I want to make you think about how you touch, who you touch, why you touch, where you touch and what you touch – but never to tell you how, who, why, where, when or what to touch. As Paul David Tripp says, “we cannot simply offer people a system or give advice on how to deal with their past. We must point them to the powerful Redeemer. He is our only hope.” My aim is to point you to Christ and implore you to think about how He was touched and touched others, and to allow His actions and His love for you to bear weight on how you give and receive touch.1
This is very much my experience in reading Handle with Care. The challenge of the theology of Jesus' life and touch – those he touched and those who touched him.
The recurring themes of the giver and receiver of touch, the challenge of sexual touch, friendship touch and even self-touch (for the healing of our bodies) were both thought-provoking and eye-opening.
Lore’s gentle way of bringing her story into the discussion and never using it to tell the reader what to do is refreshing. The walk Lore has had with living as the only girl in a big family, abuse and her struggle with miscarriage, finding her belief in different church environments also gave a mirror for me to understand my faith journey.
The big question for me is: do I recommend reading this and to whom?
It is not a “wow” book, nor a book that will justify your beliefs around touch, but I have been changed. I have been challenged to reappraise how I view touch in both my personal and ministry life. So yes, it is a book that I would recommend to both male and female readers on both a personal and a ministry journey and hope you are challenged gently like me to consider both how you give and receive touch.
Your matter matters. My matter matters.
Every body matters. Everybody matters.
Remember you are embodied.
Remember who indwells you – that you house the Holy Spirit.
Remember whose you are. Remember who loves you. Remember to whom you are going
Go, you who have been touched by the love of God, for the glory of God, touch and be touched.2
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
