Hugs can Heal
When our kids were very young we were living far from family and had traveled back to Minneapolis for a visit. While shopping at a local mall, with one stroller and three tired children, I turned to talk to our oldest little guy, and found that he was not with us.
In near-panic we searched everywhere, retracing our steps, looking in bathrooms, checking displays where a curious seven-year-old might stop to play. Nothing. He was gone, and I couldn’t think what to do next. Had he been taken by someone?
Just as I was about to report a missing child to security, I noticed a shopping cart coming out of one of the department stores. Pushing it was our son.
I don’t remember what I said to him but I do recall opening my arms and saying, “Come here.” Grabbing him in a bear-hug, I literally poured my relief and love into him. He didn’t have a clue. He had just gone to find a cart that his brother could ride and seemed surprised that we had been worried. That moment did something to me, and I can still feel the emotion of the hug.
Among other things, hugs are expressions of affection and some kinds of hugs have healing powers. I am not talking about the brief, three pats on the back, hi-g’bye style of hug. I mean the kind of hug that reaches your soul with comfort. The nonromantic kind that calls you to an embrace that says, “I know. I understand. I am with you. Count on me. You are a person of great value.”
When Jesus says, “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 19:14 ESV), I think of that kind of hug waiting for me. It is an emotional, powerful, nurturing, invitation to come that is quite different from the way we often use the word.
Come Down, Tigger!
“Come here!” you may say in a commanding way to a child, or to an animal – your dog, for instance. Implied: “Now!” It’s all in the tone of voice. “Come on now,” you say sarcastically. Or, with the same words you may protest, beg, or plead with someone to join you, agree with you, or stop doing something.
You might use it by way of a promise to attend, as in, “Yes, I will come.” You might express a hope, “He will come.” Perhaps a fear, “to come before the judge.” It might be the order of a superior officer to, “Come, follow me!” Jesus used this latter as a beckoning call to one who refused him (Mark 10:21).
Clearly, the meaning of the word come bounces all over the place, based upon the context and even the tone of voice. Its significance is something else again. When used as an invitation, an imperative, or a persuasive device, it requires the hearer to exercise great caution and discernment before responding.
It was Aristotle who defined the three main forms of rhetoric: Ethos - appeals based upon the perceived character of the speaker, Logos - appeals to logic or reason, and Pathos - appeals to emotion. The call to come might fall into each form. Are all such calls honorable? Well, what about the indirect call of greed that we discussed in Part 1 of this reflection?
The Bible uses the word in a number of interesting ways, which ask us to consider the character of the speaker, the logic of the call, and the emotion of the situation. We will look at some Biblical examples in Part 3.
Strength and Honor
Bill
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