Whenever I am in Paris, I like to go to the Louvre.  It is a magnificent and immense museum.   As I wander from room to room in awe, I am always struck by the genius of the painters and sculptors represented.  I can emember vividly feeling touched by various paintings, “The Raft of the Medusa”  by  Theodore  Gericault,  for example.

I was also touched, as were so many others at the time of the French Revolution, by Eugene Delacroix’s,  “Liberty Leading the People.”   The statue of the ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace,” so commanding, yet full of grace also touched me deeply.

Touched.  Such an interesting word, with so many meanings!  There were guards in every room to ensure the safety of the collection, to ensure no one touched anything.  There were even roped barriers between the viewing areas and the paintings or sculptures. Yet, even from a distance, I was touched, not physically touched of course,  but the emotional attraction could not be denied.

Another of my favorite museums is the Bernini Museum in Rome, as Bernini is one of my favorite sculptors.  He captures not only the form but the feelings of his subjects.  In doing so, he also touches the heart of the viewers and forms a profound connection with them.

Touched…   It is not necessary to even be in contact with something to be touched.  AT&T had a slogan several years ago, “Reach out and touch someone.”   Call and connect with someone using this service, was the message.

Touched…  In Luke 8: 3-7 and also in Matthew 9:20-21 (NIV) is the story of the woman who felt she could be healed if she could just “touch”  the robe of Christ.  “ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹ She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.””   Touched indeed!

Christ was always “touching.”  For example, in Matthew 19: 13-15. ” One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.  But Jesus said,” Let the children come unto me. Don’t stop them For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on them and blessed them before he left.”    Touched.

There are emotional touches, encouraging touches, sympathetic touches, healing touches –  can we even count them all?    When a touch is shared, we call it a “connection,” and that’s what we want with God.  We reach out to touch with prayer. We touch by serving God.  Maybe those are the spiritual touches, the times when God seems closer to us, perhaps just for an instant, but with an everlasting effect.

Does your church have a Vacation Bible School  (VBS)  program? In the VBS program, we strive to touch the lives of children and volunteers with meaningful, life-changing events to take home with them,  events they will remember years later when recalling the VBS experience.

There are so many chances during VBS to touch children on many levels – during praise worship, Bible study, recreation, and crafts.  Isn’t it wonderful that children can have this experience at an early age and develop a hunger for more of God’s love?

“When a touch is shared, we call it a ‘connection,’ and that’s what we want with God.”  Warren Jaycox

Why participate in a VBS team?  Ask someone who has been there to explain it. Chances are, they will have a difficult time.  The usual answer is,” well, it is hard to explain.”  Yes, words may be inadequate to describe the experience, but there’s no doubt that it touched many lives.

Perhaps the most telling testimony is that it’s such a glorious experience that most children and volunteers want to repeat the VBS experience year after year. Something, some experience, some feeling, some emotion draws them back to repeat that glorious experience of feeling closer to God and being able to share that experience with others.

Don’t miss out to be a part of a VBS team in some manner and yes –  do it now!