Notice all of the hands in this photo. The “photographer’s” left hand is visible through the camera lens. His right hand is holding the hand of another. The woman to the right is clinging to her mobility scooter with her hand. The dominant feature surrounding the camera is hands. Hands can be destructive and evil, as with the case of the Nazis, including the Nazi who would have been taking this photo.  Also, hands can do so much good.

We join hands to connect with each other;  we cook, eat, and create things with our hands; we support ourselves with with our hands; we pray with our hands; we welcome new life from the womb with our hands. Hands are such a window into our thoughts. The hands in this photo tell us that on this afternoon in April, the people of Greensboro were coming together, joining hands, to support people in pain and to hope to live in a world where we use our hands only for the best of deeds.

On a related topic- hands; the first place for writing in O. Henry Magazine is published in the current issue. The title is “What Are You Going To Do With Your Hands?” by McCabe Coolidge. Be prepared to shed a tear.

Happy Monday!