Presence 2: Arts That Inspire Reflection & PrayerSample
![Presence 2: Arts That Inspire Reflection & Prayer](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F10827%2F1280x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Hands Of God
I’m looking at my hands,
Holding them up to my face.
I smell them,
Taste them,
Rub them against my cheek.
I know these hands better than anyone,
Yet I scarcely know them at all.
On the ends of my arms
Are the hands of God.
If I were you, God,
I’d change the world,
Fill empty bellies,
Heal broken bodies,
Balance the imbalanced,
Find the lost,
Trip up the powerful,
Brighten the miserable,
Enlighten the confused.
People wonder, you know,
Why you don’t release the hostages,
Quiten the gunfire,
Stop the bombs,
Why you don’t get politicized,
Why you don’t prick the consciences
Of those holding prisoners of conscience,
Why you don't topple fascist regimes,
Make everyone vegetarian,
Stop motorways erasing forests,
Fridges erasing ozone,
Why you don’t end racism, sexism, ageism, sizeism,
… atheism, obviously.
If I were you, God,
I wouldn’t have done things your way,
Opening your hands wide for this world
Only for us to split them wider,
Seeing we could do with a hand
And giving us both.
There’s your spirit, of course,
Still moving over the face of the deep
And the shallow
And there’s us.
(This I would have done differently.)
We are your hands now
And we no longer nail them,
We just tie them tight,
Knotted with a million excuses.
If I were you
i’d move that spirit on us,
Change us from cynical to hopeful,
Cold to warm,
Indifferent to motivated,
Change us into people like Jesus
Uncurling our frozen fists,
Spreading hands wide
Despite the hammer’s risk.
I suppose your way has worked,
You have changed the world,
But it’s still hard to imagine
A place called future
Where dying is history,
Where the present can be seen in context,
Where the random
And the chance
And the meaningless
Are pieces you have fitted in a
Transcendental jigsaw,
Where tearducts are only used with laughter
Where your hands are indistinguishable
From our hands.
Look at your hands.
Hold them up to your face,
Smell them,
Taste them, rub them against your cheek.
You know them better than anyone,
Yet you scarcely know them at all.
On the ends of your arms
Are the hands of God.
Written By Martin Wroe
More Content
Scripture
About this Plan
![Presence 2: Arts That Inspire Reflection & Prayer](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F10827%2F1280x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Presence Plan is a collection of chapters taken from the free app with the purpose of creating space. A relaxing, mindful experience leading us in reflection & prayer. Music, film and poetry inspired from scripture throughout the plan weaves a journey that gives us time out, a sense of peace and an opportunity to experience God’s presence.
More
We would like to thank Presence Project for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.presenceproject.com
Related Plans
![Sharing Jesus Beyond Christmas](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F54311%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Sharing Jesus Beyond Christmas
![When Christmas Isn’t Supposed to Be This Way: A 5-Day Reading Plan for Pregnancy Loss](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F54293%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
When Christmas Isn’t Supposed to Be This Way: A 5-Day Reading Plan for Pregnancy Loss
![Wives Who Win for Christ: Influencing Your Unsaved Husband Through Discipleship by Dr. Treal Ravenel](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F54284%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Wives Who Win for Christ: Influencing Your Unsaved Husband Through Discipleship by Dr. Treal Ravenel
![Bible Study 2: Naomi's Journey - Finding Strength in Mentorship](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55234%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Bible Study 2: Naomi's Journey - Finding Strength in Mentorship
![Raising the Next Generation: Trusting God’s Plan for Single Mothers](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55219%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Raising the Next Generation: Trusting God’s Plan for Single Mothers
![WHAT IS CHRISTMAS TO YOU?](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F2882%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS TO YOU?
![Allowing Our Children to Grow and Go: A 3-Day Parenting Plan](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55238%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Allowing Our Children to Grow and Go: A 3-Day Parenting Plan
![Rediscovering Hope: Experiencing God’s Healing to Expect Again](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F54291%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Rediscovering Hope: Experiencing God’s Healing to Expect Again
![The Year of God's Divine Agenda](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F54109%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
The Year of God's Divine Agenda
![Faith-Fueled Leadership: Embracing Gratitude and Grace](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F54294%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)