HANDS THAT SPEAK

     I remember speaking at a Social Workers symposium.  The discussion centered around the many types of people that make up this world.

The question I posed was "What is a good criteria for insight into a person's character?"

     I then made a simple observation.  The best way to know a person is to look at their hands. Yes,their "Hands".

Think about it. Hands have so much power and strength.They can build massive buildings, they can heal a wound, they can brush away a tear. We write with them , and fight with them, eat with them and greet and hug others with them. I sense, therefore, that if we see how others perform with their hands we will gain greater insight as to their personality.

   I read recently that there are three main gestures that hands perform.

  First there is the "Hand Wringer". He/she is a person that in time of stress when clear thinking and decisive action is required stands in the corner wringing their hands and gives out a gushersrey "ohy vey". Such a person believes that hand wringing is going to solve his/her problem and in reality it never does.

 The second there  is the "Hand Folder".  When challenged  he/she sits with their hands folded doing nothing and waiting for others to act and then will decide if they are willing to make a decision on how they should act. Most of the time these "Hand Folders" do nothing and after all is said and done they complain "Why was it done this way? I recall someone sitting in a classroom  hands folded as if to say "O.K. teach me. Go ahead change me." Most of the time such a person is never motivated.

  Now we come to the third variety of hands .This is the person whom we can all emulate , he is the the "Hand Extender".  He/she is willing to extend themselves, to give him/her self for a cause, an ideal. I refer to such a person as the "Nachshon" of our society, willing to jump into the fray to bring about the Geulah for mankind. Such hands are always ready unselfishly, willing to be touched by human needs and can always be counted on to respond.

   The "Hand Extender" does not wait to be welcomed. They jump at the chance to be the first to say hello and the first to welcome others into their midst and into their lives. The "Hand Extender" is never judgmental, always acting with Lekaf Zechut to others. Such a person has an open heart.

   Here, my friends, is what life is all about.  Look at your hands and your neighbors hands for they tell the story of life.

  The question I pose and only you can answer, "What story are your hands telling?"