by Barb Alston, Melita Presbyterian Church

As we now slide further into August, the weather remains warm, and the harvest progresses. Fields turn from solid greens and tan colors to ordered, swathed rows. The black birds begin to flock together.  The sound of crickets is more evident. The nights become a bit cooler and the morning dew heavier. Flowers may be at their peak, or in need of a trim. In our garden we are onto the 4th planting of radishes and the 2nd planting of peas. We eagerly wait the ripening of our patch of sweet corn.

The main idea that has been coming to mind these days is how summer is a good time to keep in touch. Some families take advantage of the various festivals in area towns to have gatherings. There are reports of family and class reunions. It gives us a wonderful feeling when we are in touch with one another.

This got me thinking about the sense of touch — and what a wonderful part of our lives this is. Anyone with a small baby knows how they love to be held and snuggled. The same is true for young puppies. They tend to like to sleep in a little pile when very young. 

I once was taught a very important lesson about the sense of touch. I took some 6 week -old puppies to visit at the Personal Care Home and took them around to various people. The puppies loved the attention as they got lots of rubs and petting. One of the nurses came and got one of the puppies to take to another lady. I had never thought of doing this, as this particular lady was blind. Later that lady thanked me for bringing the puppy, and commented how soft his fur was. It was a wake up call of me to remember that sight is only one way of experiencing the things in this life, a reminder for me not to forget the sense of touch. 

I love to play the piano, partly because of the expression a person can put into their playing, by touching the piano keys with different pressures of your hands and fingers. 

At a recent family gathering, the young people were playing “touch foot-ball”, reminding me how the word “touch” is a part of many things, including some of the games we play. 

Another part of being in touch is gathering around a camp-fire, or bonfire, whatever you prefer to call it. Conversation happens all around the gathered circle. 

This reminds me of the time the resurrected Jesus gathered with his disciples on the shore of the lake where they had just caught their big catch of fish (upon his direction) — they gathered around the charcoal fire where he was cooking fish and bread — and he spoke to them of important things about how they were to continue his ministry  . . . . . (John 21)

We also read in Matthew ch. 9 of the woman who suffered from bleeding, touched the cloak of Jesus and he turned and told her that her faith had made her well. Many desired to receive his touch because in his touch was healing. 

We are in touch with each other through conversation. Much is passed on in a touch to the shoulder, a hand-shake, a high five or a kiss.

This all leads to the humble thought of how God also touches our lives in so many ways — in the beauty of all creation, in the ways we touch one another’s lives, and in the experience of His presence as we live our day to day lives.

The other day we were listening to a wonderful song about an old violin at an auction sale. “The touch of the Master’s hand” The words are based on a poem originally written by Myrna Brooks Welch, and this version is sung by Bill Anderson:

'Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while

To waste much time on the ol' violin but he held it up with a smile

"What am I offered good folks?" he cried
"Who will start the bidding for me?
A dollar, one dollar, two, only two
Two dollars who will make it three
Three dollars once three dollars twice going for three
But, no from the back of the room a gray haired man came forward
And gently picked up the bow
And then wiping the dust from the ol' violin tuning the loose strings,
He played a melody as pure and sweet as the caroling angel's sing
The music stopped and the auctioneer with a voice quiet and low said
"Now what am I bid for the ol' violin?" he held it up with the bow
A thousand dollars, who will make it two
Two thousand who will make it three
Three thousand once, Three thousand twice and going, going and gone.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We don't understand what changed its worth?"
Then someone replied, "The touch of the master's hand."
So many a man with life out of tune much like the ol' violin
But the Master comes and a change is brought
By the touch of the Master's Hand by the touch of the Master's Hand

May each one of us know the touch of God, in our being in touch with the creation around us and with one another.