Take My Hand

take my hand
tim pezzelle
2012-05
 
i just love these little snippet thoughts.  my attention span is perfect for right around 5 words or less.  the difficulty occurs when those few words strike like a tuning fork that just sort of vibrates on and on.  when that happens i write it down using far more than those few words and expect your attention span to be significantly more exercised and disciplined than is mine.  just not fair, right?  well, i had one of those “tuning fork” moments the other day while watching Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
 
in this story, one of the important plot lines revolves around a Potions book that falls into harry’s possession at the beginning of his year-six term.  the book has had a previous owner, is badly worn and contains a plethora of notes which enable harry to jump to the head of the Potions class.  this sudden academic excellence does not escape ms. grainger’s (one of harry’s best friends) notice and her curiosity leads her to discover that the book was once the property of the “Half Blood Prince”.
 
to shorten the backdrop…  harry performs one of the unusual, unfamiliar hand-written spells in the book while dueling with draco malfoy (one of the story antagonists)… the spell nearly kills malfoy.  it is at this point that harry finally agrees that he must surrender the book.  this is a difficult decision for harry.  he is unaccustomed to the “head of class” position that using the book has afforded him, and he is reluctant to let go.
 
and then those words…  “take my hand”.  as harry struggles with the decision to let go of the book, ginny weasley (an emerging love interest for Harry) simply says “take my hand”.  she recognizes the battle that harry is fighting and offers to come along side and fight it with him… “take my hand”.
 
this moment in the story transports me to the many times in my life when “take my hand” were the words i most needed to hear.  as my mind drifts through the scenes, my heart softens as i recall the generosity of the ones who have spoken those words to me in my moments of need.   i see now what i overlooked - these people were warrior-friends, willing to empty their hands so that i might have something solid to grasp in the battle.  they were willing to step away from their comfort and into my distress.
 
and, as is often the case, my thoughts begin to wander in the direction of the cross.  i hear Jesus saying these words: “take my hand”.   He says the words in two wonderfully distinct ways, with two wonderfully distinct purposes.
  
“take my hand” is exactly what Jesus says to the One who requires a sacrifice for my sin.  Jesus speaks these words to the Judge on my behalf.  knowing that the hands that knew no sin would be pierced for my transgression did not stop Jesus from making the offer.  “take my hand….  not tim’s hand”.  “wound my hand… not his”.  “pierce my hand… not his”.   Jesus saw my battle and knew that i was over-matched and helpless to claim victory.   He intervenes with those three simple words…. “take my hand”…. and I am spared the judgment i deserve.
  
having bought my victory with nail pierced hands…  having endured separation from God…. having risen….  He now says those same words, but to me:  “take my hand”.   when the distance between where i am and where i’m going is unthinkably far, i hear Him… “take my hand”.  when the rocky terrain of this fallen world is impossible to navigate, i hear Him…  “take my hand”.   when the sorrows pile up and become mountains in my path, i hear him…. “take my hand”. 
 
“… come to me all you who are tired and burdened – and I will give you rest.  take my yoke upon you and learn from me… for I am humble and gentle in heart… and you will find rest for your souls.”
 
“take my hand”.