Why do we bow our heads or kneel when we pray? Why do we reach upwards with our arms or bring our palms together? Or reach out with both hands and open up our hands in a receiving gesture?
Does body posture really matter?
Hand gestures and body posture communicate in ways that our words simply cannot. Think of the child who sees her daddy come home from work and runs to him with outstretched arms; the way a man turns to look at the woman he loves across a crowded room; the hand reaching out to help someone in need…
One of my favorite childhood memories is of my grandmother touching my face as she talked to me. Something about that gesture communicated the depth of her love for me more than her words ever did.
During a physical therapy session years ago, I was placed in the “child” position and left alone for a bit. I lay there, in that position, completely vulnerable yet completely trusting and found myself relaxing. I realized that something about that posture made it easier for me to be a child before God.
When a gesture or posture correctly reflects heart-attitude in prayer or worship, it is a pure, beautiful and child-like way to acknowledge our Creator.
Sometimes, I just don’t have words, or words aren’t just enough…
~shini abraham, ©2016, duco divina – contemplative doodling
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