Working Hands

"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks…"  --Isaiah 2:4

Eugene Salandra 2012

I have never used a plow.

It looks like hard work.

Really hard work.

The kind of work that makes hands calloused and blistered and tough -- hands that are rough, dry and thick.

Working hands.


I don't have a pair of working hands.  But there is someone I Love who has a pair of working hands.  They are thick and strong -- tough yet tender.  They are the result of years upon years of plain ol' hard work.  They are hands that can craft beauty.  Hands that can meld steel.  Hands that can till soil to make room for life.

My hands have seen piano keys and dishwater… they mend wounds with band-aids and soothe tear stained faces with a touch.

But they are weak.  They get tired when I try to do anything too strenuous.  From pulling weeds to knitting to twisting the top off a pickle jar.

They just haven't been worked the way working hands have worked.



I don't think beating swords into plowshares is just about eliminating tools of destruction.


I think it's about work.

I think it's about working hands.


On the surface, peace sounds so…. peaceful… restful … easy.



But you know what?

Peace takes work.

Hard, hard work.



Do you know what's easy?

Chaos.
                    Destruction.


Things just fall into chaos.  Bathrooms and living rooms and beds fall into chaos without much work.  An old barn collapses in on itself without much work.  Things break down, wear out, and fall into disarray without very much work at all.



What takes work?

Cleaning that bathroom and living room.  Making the beds.  Painting and repairing the barn.  Keeping things renewed and strong and in order.


Peace.

               Peace takes work.


It takes work:

Creating a peaceful home.  Mending relationships -- working on relationships.  Forgiveness.  Daily keeping order in a world that so easily slips into chaos.


"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."  --Isaiah 2:3


Come.

Let us put on our workbooks and coveralls.  Let us push up our sleeves, grab our plow, and get to work.


Let us work.

For peace.


Peace in our homes.  Peace in our families.  Peace in our minds.  Peace in our souls.  Peace in our hearts.



Come, Lord Jesus.

Here we are…

                hands ready…

                                 to work.