Hanging on for dear life with open hands

Palms Up…

In his book Love Does, lawyer/activist Bob Goff describes how he instructs his clients to posture during a deposition –

So when my clients are being deposed, I tell them all the same thing each time: sit in the chair and answer the questions, but do it with your hands palms up the whole time. I tell them to literally have the backs of their hands on their knees and their palms toward the bottom of the table.

He goes on to say –

When their palms are up, they have an easier time being calm, honest, and accurate. And this is important, because it’s harder for them to get defensive. When people get angry or defensive they tend to make mistakes. But nobody can be defensive with their palms up.

Goff then explains the non-law application –

Palms up means you have nothing to hide and nothing to gain or lose. Palms up means you are strong enough to be vulnerable, even with your enemies. Even when you have been tremendously wronged. Jesus was palms up, to the end.

If I had a theme for 2012-2013 it was palms up (I termed it open hands).

I’m learning to live an open and honest life. I’m desire a life with nothing to hide, gain or lose.

As Goff says, this posture put me in a vulnerable position – with friends, enemies and God. I am completely dependent because I hold onto nothing.

I’ve learned while it’s completely, nerve-rackingly scary; it also is the most exhilarating thing in the world. Living completely open and dependent on God is amazing.

…while hanging on.

Here’s the funny thing – a dichotomy – God wants us to live a palms up/open hands life, but at the same time cling to Him.

The Bible has a wonderful example of this with the story of Ruth.

Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Naomi has moved from Israel to a land called Moab because of a severe famine. While in Moab, Naomi’s 2 sons marry, her husband dies, and the 2 sons subsequently die. This leaves Naomi, Ruth and another daughter-in-law helpless.

In those days, it was the responsibility of the husband’s family to care for widows. Naomi was unable to do this, so she packs up and heads back to Israel. Both daughter-in-laws are in tow, when Naomi stops to turn them back home.

One agrees to go back home, but Ruth refuses –

And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi.  -Ruth 1:14

Ruth is obviously hanging on. She won’t let go.

But it doesn’t end there. Ruth follows those words with these to Naomi –

Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!  -Ruth 1:16-17

Just as much as Ruth is hanging on, Ruth is living palms up.

It’s a great picture and example: hang onto God with palms up. In essence, you say, “God, I’m not letting go of You, and I’m ready for whatever You send my way.”

Honestly, it’s one in the same.

You can’t cling to God without open hands, and you can’t truly have open hands without hanging on to God for dear life.

Take the risk.

In 2012, my Word of the Year was RISK. As I said, this is the one thing pounded into me that year. Risk is clinging to God with palms up.

Are you hanging on? Are your palms up?

Try it. Your life will never be the same.