Hands up - #5

"Kneel down.

Hands up.

Close your eyes.

Say a prayer while you’re at it.”

Miss C’s voice echoed through the classroom.

“Oh my word. Not this again!” my inner voice screamed.

Why on earth would this smart woman who had an uncanny talent for overcomplicating our math assignments not be able to come up with a more creative punishment? Aaarghhh!

I hated kneeling as a child, I mean, I still do. In fact, I’d rather be grounded for a month than have to kneel for 30 mins.

To paint a picture of the severity of my hatred for kneeling, I consider Leg days to be my worst days at the gym because they often involve Lunges which sort of mimic kneeling.?

Lunges unlock a whole new level of torment for me but my trainer, S, is not one for excuses or sympathy ??.

What’s even worse than kneeling is having to raise my hands while kneeling. Aren’t my knees already suffering enough?

But life, much like my teacher, sometimes humbles us by forcing us into moments of surrender where our knees kiss the earth and our hands stretch to touch the sky.?

Moses had one of those times. His challenge was simple: keep your hands up and win or drop them and lose. Well, when he had to do that for several long hours, it stopped being so simple. It became daunting.

As zigzags, maintaining momentum can be incredibly tough. Even the strongest of us eventually tire out despite smelling the win a mile away.        

It took time for Moses to run out of steam but when he did, he had Aaron and Hur by his side to lean on.

They rushed in and offered real support by ensuring he found rest and comfort in the midst of his challenging task, They even held his arms up until the battle was won. No complaints. No retreat.

That, my darlings, is what a true community looks like.

We all need a Hur in our corner for difficult times, but to raise him, we must first invest in our relationships. We must first learn to value our community, nurture our connections, and be the support someone else needs.?        

Our zigzag path is rarely a walk in the park, so please take care to surround yourself with those who inspire and uplift you.

So, when next you are faced with an insurmountable challenge or with feelings of isolation, remember this:

You don’t have to go it alone. Look for the Hurs in your life and lean on them.?        

So, as you go about today, please, find someone's hand to hold up.

Until next time, darlings.

Love, light, and zigzags

Deborah Keremah-Dickson