I read in the newspaper a report that a very large congregation is advising its parishioners to avoid hugging and shaking hands at church until the current “swine flu” emergency is over. That policy is somewhat understandable because that particular church is one in which a feature in worship services is the “passing of the peace.” This is a ritual in which everyone shakes hands and more often than not embraces fellow worshippers. It is a church that includes the ritual of Holy Communion in each worship service and everyone drinks from a common cup. So, it comes as no surprise that some might fear the spread of the flu might be a problem at church. And, nobody wants to get sick at church! Do you remember the blooper in the church bulletin that asked for prayers for “those sick of the church!”

     The caution against touching in the worship services of the church reminded me of the time several years ago when AIDS first came to public awareness. I had some people express anxiety to me about the possibility AIDS could be spread in church and especially in Holy Communion. If you are concerned about such things, you can be sure every precaution is taken to prevent such a thing. I’ve never heard of anyone catching a disease from Communion at church. I reckon Jesus and his disciples didn’t worry about such things at The Last Supper. After all, they were all Jews and wouldn’t have been caught anywhere near a swine flu virus or swine anything else!

     Of course, we folk here in North Carolina and throughout the South have a different perspective on pork. I once agreed to participate in a pig-kissing contest to raise money for a worthy cause. Eventually the contest was cancelled. But not before I went through several weeks of training for the event. I was determined to win that battle. I grew so attached to pigs that every time I drove past a Bar-B-Q joint, my eyes filled with tears. I’m over all that now. I’m older and wiser and I don’t think I’d kiss a pig now even for a worthy cause—especially with swine flu going around. This flu has made us all a little bit edgy. My beloved wife Judy has had a bad cold for several days. She coughs and sneezes a lot. We all sit around listening carefully, prepared to scramble for the door if she oinks! (Don’t tell her I said that!)

     Back to the hugging and handshaking at church issue. It is hard to be church when people can’t hug and shake hands at church. Touching is so much a part of what it means to be Christian. And we are usually at our worst when we declare people “untouchable.” We read the Bible and we learn about the “untouchables” who were shunned because of their illnesses. We have come to believe that few acts of spirituality are greater than for us to reach out and touch the untouchables in our world. We honor those who practice the healing arts—who touch the sick with healing. Touching is a big part of being human.

     This all has a personal impact on me. Forty years ago I had a prolonged exposure to leprosy while on a mission in South America. Later, I was suspected of having contracted the dreaded disease. If you have ever touched me, you may now relax. After a time of testing I was found not to have become an untouchable. Sometime I will tell you that story. But the experience forever changed me. I have no fear of touching--especially at church. So y’all exercise common sense, but next Sunday go on to church and touch someone. God will take care of you.

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