Tag Archives: Henri Nouwen

The Human Touch

The human touch

“Couple at Coney Island, New York,” 1928, Walker Evans. Image from a page of the 2014 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

The Human Touch – Walking along hand in hand, no words need to be spoken…

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”  Henri Nouwen

The Human Touch

Walking along hand in hand,

no words need to be spoken.

The human touch can be all that we need,

to repair that which was broken.

A gentle pat on the back,

a warm, lingering embrace.

The human touch can be all that we need,

to help overcome the challenges that we face.

An outstretched arm in the nick of time;

a kiss on the cheek in greeting.

The human touch can be all that we need,

unlike words that can sometimes be fleeting.

A firm handshake to solidify a pledge;

a gesture that makes a promise sure.

The human touch can be all that we need,

to make matters of the heart secure.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

There is something very powerful about the human touch.  One of the most soothing and comforting things that I remember about the tender moments that I’ve shared with my husband are when we simply walked along together hand in hand.  No words needed to be exchanged; we simply spoke to each other through the power of the human touch.  It seems like whenever I sit down, my little dog Bilbo loves to hop into my lap and snuggle up close to my chest.  Although he isn’t human, I think I enjoy that warm, closeness with him just as much as he seems to.

Indeed, the power of the human touch is soothing, confirming, enjoyable and healing.   May you experience that power by sharing the gift of your touch in a meaningful way with others today.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Perspectives

perspectives

“Studies of a Young Woman,” 1870, Adolph Menzel. Image from a page of the 2015 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

Perspectives – My life’s perspectives are always changing, and challenging me to do more.

“Perhaps nothing helps us make the movement from our little selves to a larger world than remembering God in gratitude.  Such a perspective puts God in view in all of life, not just in the moments we set aside for worship or spiritual disciplines.  Not just in the moments when life seems easy.”  Henri Nouwen

Perspectives

Staring in the mirror, who do I see?

At first glance, it is simply a reflection of me.

As I peer closer, an added dimension appears.

My face reveals a culmination of my life through the years.

My eyes reflect back to me experiences of times past.

Those times that I’ve rushed through, and the ones I’d wanted to last.

What a contrast; how differently I see things now than I did before.

My life’s perspectives are always changing, and challenging me to do more.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

One of my neighbors, and gracious admirer of my artwork, has commissioned me to do a graphite pencil drawing for her.  The image is a street scene which will require my using the technique of perspective, while sketching out the composition.  Perspectives can involve something as simple as verbalizing a single point of view.  When it comes to other things in life, however, they can be as complex as trying to represent the illusion of depth and distance on a flat sheet of paper.  Perspectives also carry another dimension with them.  For as the relationship between the items being focused upon change, so does the way we in which we view them.

Perspectives, whether used as a technique in drawing or as a way of analyzing life events, are interesting to say the least.  How do you approach things that require you to view them in more than one dimension?

Peace and love,

Felecia

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