• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer on…” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrines’ perspectives on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content
• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer on…” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrines’ perspectives on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content and length. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week the suggested topic is sons. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Dr. James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
Early in the 1980s AT&T came up with the slogan, “Reach out and touch someone.” That was an excellent suggestion for people to use the phone not merely to exchange information, but to make an emotional connection; to let someone know that you care.
If someone were to ask me what’s the most important thing about the Christian faith this would be high on my list. God wants us to reach out and touch others with the power, the warmth, the depth and the beauty of His love.
Touching another soul with authentic compassion — what’s a better purpose for our lives? The physical expression of touch is enormously beneficial. All people need physical touch, and our pets do too. Touch establishes a connection. It conveys caring. It’s a vehicle of affection.
When Jesus blessed the children, the Bible tells us, he placed his hands upon them. When he healed, he did so while laying his hands on the afflicted person.
There is an exchange of energy that moves through us when we touch another person. This is why a gentle touch along with a soothing prayer and a loving smile can have a transforming impact in the life of another person.
Pastor Wayne Patton
Anahola Baptist Church
There is something deeply personal and compassionate in a gentle touch.
Many times Jesus broke cultural taboos to exercise mercy toward the needy. In this way He shook up the conventional thinking to reveal the priority of mercy as His mission.
Jesus’ willingness to touch a leper (Matthew 8:3) was an expression of His compassion.
Jesus’ touch was purposeful. He extended Himself for the benefit of this man in need. In Matthew 9:18-19 we read of an official’s confidence in Jesus when he boldly asserted that Jesus’ touch would bring his young daughter back to life. Touching a dead body was considered the most defiling kind of uncleanness.
Most religious leaders and teachers would have refused to come anywhere near the dead, yet Jesus reached out with a compassionate touch and raised the young child to life.
Some things drain the life out of us. As we reach out and touch Jesus by faith, power flows out of Him for the healing of our lives.
Lama Tashi Dundrup
Kaua‘i Dharma Center
To touch your heart and the heart of other living beings with kindness, compassion, love and understanding is the purpose of all spiritual traditions.
To have the ability to alleviate the pain, suffering and disease in others is very touching.
We believe this is the best reason to keep taking birth in the human world as a bodhisatva.
This together with attaining enlightenment or Buddhahood is the evolutionary ultimate achievement of the human race.
Topic for two weeks from today
• Will you speak to us on dreams?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.
• Deadline each week is 5 p.m. Tuesday.