Some years ago, I went out for a late February walk through a fresh snowfall. God was on my mind and my heart as the beauty of the sparkling diamond snowflakes captivated me. I closely observed the trees and reflected about how the trees reach desperately and purposefully towards the sun – the thing that nourishes them most. Then I thought to myself: I need to do that. I need to urgently, resolutely, and passionately reach towards God.
I extended my hands upwards to heavens in a physical display of my praise, honor, and gratitude. God is my sun, my moon, my stars, my sky, my air, my water, my strength, my life, my future, my past, my today…the thing that nourishes me most. And the only “thing” that can satisfy my spiritual hunger.
As I returned home, I sat on my bed with my bible in the stillness and waited. The whisper came in the form of scripture: “Your stature is like that of the palm.” Song of Songs 7:7
God recognized my actions and the attitude in my heart. He affirmed my desire to pursue Him recklessly.
Now as I ponder that experience from my past, I think about the palm tree, and its many references in the Bible. The palm is used in metaphors, and as ornamental displays and celebration props.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. Psalm 92:12
On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Leviticus 23:40
Palm branches are always used at my church during the Palm Sunday worship service (the Sunday before Easter, when the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is celebrated). The children walk around the sanctuary waving palm branches overhead, and exclaiming “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (see John 12:13). The greenery is saved and burned the following year to produce materials needed for Ash Wednesday. The remains of the palms end up as black smudges on our foreheads, symbolizing purification and sorrow for our sins.
Even in the book of Revelations, imagery of heaven includes palm branches!
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9
But there is another definition of the word “palm”, it is not just a type of tree or a symbol of rejoicing. Palm is also the name of the fleshy, concave underside of our hands.
And God tells us this in Isaiah 49:16
I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
Other texts/translations use written, inscribed, and indelibly imprinted rather than the word “engraved.” I’ve heard this verse often, and always find comfort in hearing it again. To know that God has me forever adorned on his palms – this belief is a place of security and strength for me.
Then a question occurred to me: Is God imprinted on my own palm?
I decided to try an experiment using the literal meaning of “written on my palm” to see if it would inspire a more spiritual meaning…..
My Palm Experiment, Round 1 (9/1/2018)
I took an ink pen and wrote “Jesus” on the palm of my left hand (since I am right-handed). The first thing I realized is that ink washes off too easily. And yet I was hesitant to write His name using permanent marker. Why? I’m still coming to terms with that, but I think it just felt like a bigger commitment to use marker, so it was important to stop and think first. After just a brief discernment, I wrote “Jesus” in black Sharpie marker and went about my day.
Over a period of four days, here are a few lessons or “aha” moments from this experiment:
- My hand had to be open to see it. Which means it must be open to receive His Gifts.
- Seeing “Jesus” as I completed household chores reminded me of scripture: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
- Every time I held my iPhone (which I hold in my left hand), the phone covered up His name. I too easily have idols that put Jesus in the shadows.
- Since His name is on my left hand, I also see my wedding ring each time. I reminisced about Christ’s commitment to the church, and of my vows to my husband.
- Even with the permanent marker, the word would fade quite significantly by the next morning. I had to consciously make the decision each day to write His name on my palm, to choose to follow Him, to claim Him.
- Coincidently (or not so coincidently), my family spent some time fishing during this experimentation. Jesus’s name on my hand while I held the fishing pole caused me to laugh, it was so literal…thinking of his disciples being fisherman, and Jesus’s invitation to become “fishers of men”.
- Every time I ate, the name Jesus displayed side-by-side with my food. I was consistently reminded of the scripture: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
- In some ways, it felt like we were holding hands, and my level of intimacy with Jesus deepened.
Even now, as I type these words, the faded name remains on my palm. I’m considering my next step…
My Palm Experiment, Round 2 (5/16/2020)
During this time of isolation due to the Covid lockdown, and spending more quiet time with God, I was inspired to repeat my experiment from a year and half ago. Except this time, I was willing to go a step further: by writing His name on BOTH of my palms.
This experiment felt differently right from the start. This time, I was going ALL IN. Fully committed. The revelations and insights erupted immediately!
I wrote His name on one palm to claim my identify in Him, then wrote His name on my other palm to allow His Love to flow in and out of me. After writing the names on my palms, I closed my hands into fists, and while He was still “mine”, I would not be able to share His Love with others with closed hands.
Even though I could not offer my hands in greetings (due to social distancing), I still realized that whenever I extended my hands in service, in deeds, in text messages… I had the opportunity to be His Hands.
His name on both of my hands reminded me that both of His hands were nailed to the cross for me. Because God gave me self-will, I can choose to wash His Name off my hands…but He is the only one who can wash away my sin. If I wash my hands of His name, I refuse His gift of grace and forgiveness.
Just looking at my palms brought a smile to my face, a consciousness of Christ to my heart. I became filled with inexpressible joy!
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8
What really stood out as the difference between the first and the second experiments?
- Writing His name on one hand represented an attitude of “I’ll give you some of me, the parts of my life I choose, but I’m keeping some of it for myself.” But writing His name on both hands said “Take all of me Jesus!”
- When both hands are His, they can work in harmony. They are free to do His good and perfect will. When one hand is His and one is “mine”, I become disjointed. They aren’t working in sync. I feel awkward and inefficient as I attempt His will with one hand and my will with the other.
- I cannot live fully when my hands have different masters!
- Jesus hands were strong hands, kind hands, healing hands. Hands that granted miracles. If I want hands like Jesus, I must give Him both of my hands. All of me.
- Having His Name on both hands resulted in a richer experience of Christ in my life than with the first experiment. I was reminded more frequently of His Presence, and He was involved in every detail of my daily life, regardless of whether one or both hands were needed.
- He was on my right hand – my “dominant” hand – which scripture tells me God wants to hold this hand so that He is the source of my dominance, my direction.
You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel. Psalm 73:24
- But He was also on my left hand – my “weak” hand – which scripture tells me God wants to shine His power through my weaknesses.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Seeing Jesus Christ written across my palms was a constant reminder that He has the whole world in His hands (go ahead, sing the song!).
Praise God!
And then in return, when I have Jesus in my hands (that is, in my heart), I have the whole world too…
because Jesus is my world.