Hands

Have you ever looked at your hands? 
These appendages are designed the same in all humans, but come in a vast variety of sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and abilities.  God created people in His image.   Since God is a builder, master craftsman, healer, teacher, and parent, we see all these things in our hands.  Look at your hands, carefully.  What do you see - sacrifice, love, generosity?

Remember the Praying Hands?  Did you ever wonder how that simple carving became so powerful?

Almost 1000 years ago in the small southern German village lived a young boy who was a talented sculptor.  During the day he worked for his father who was a tanner of hides; but at night, he used his God given talent to fashion images of the people and animals he saw during the day.  As he grew older, he continued to sculpt until finally his family and friends decided to sent him to Ulm to study under the master craftsmen who worked on a massive cathedral.  He left his home with high hopes, a strong faith, and very little money.  At home his family prayed for him daily - that his talent would be used by God to bless people. 

Once he arrived in Ulm, he searched for work among the craftsmen and artisans.  During this time, he met other young men who also wanted to hone their craft and work on the great cathedral.  When their funds became depleted, the young artists became discouraged; and one by one they fled back to their home towns.  Soon only the young artist from southern Germany and one from the north remained. These two struggling young sculptors decided that two could live as cheaply as one, so they pooled their meager funds and found an attic room above an tannery.  Each week these young men attended church, prayed, and continued to work toward their dream of becoming famous artisans.  as time passed neither man was able to make a living in his chosen field of art.  Finally as the men faced starvation, they decided that one must find work. 

Since the young man from the south of Germany had worked with his father who was a tanner, he asked the landlord for a job in the tannery below the attic room.  Each day he worked the hides turning the stiff hides into supple leather.  Yet while the hides became soft, the young man's hands stiffened and gnarled.  Though he could not use the fine tools of a sculptor, he continued to pray that his friend's talent would be used as a witness of God's love for His creation.  As the years passed and his hands became more work worn - often bleeding and cracking - his friend gained in artistic ability and knowledge.  Every night, the young man would continue to pray that his friend would show the grace of God to all people.

As a tribute to the faith and loyalty of his friend, the artist from north Germany carved the image we know as "THE PRAYING HANDS".

These two men died centuries ago, and yet the legacy of God's love continues to shine.  These hands are on prayer books, wall hangings, necklaces, all because of one man's willing sacrifice of everything he valued for the glory of God.

CAN YOU BE A LIVING SACRIFICE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD?