He Touched Me
Ratliff Creek flows through the front portion of my property. While mowing a few days ago I noticed a nice patch of jewelweed growing along the bank of the creek. I decided I’d take a picture of one of the flowers to share with you. Jewelweed is a beautiful flower and is commonly known by another name, “touch-me-not.” When the mature pods of this flower are touched they explode sending seeds long distances. Since that is the case, I’m not sure how it came to be called touch-me-not. Touching the plant helps it spread.
Thinking about all this got me to thinking about another hymn. By now you’ve noticed that the hymns of our faith are important to me. In 1963 Bill Gaither wrote a song called “He Touched Me.” The first verse says, “Shackled by a heavy burden, ‘neath a load of guilt and shame. Then the hand of Jesus touched me, and now I am no longer the same.” The refrain that follows reads, “He touched me, oh He touched me, and oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.”
I’m glad God didn’t see me as a “touch-me-not.” Forty-three years ago He did, in fact, touch me and my life has not been the same since. Like the explosion caused by touching the jewelweed, Jesus has made an incredible difference in my life. His joy has flooded my soul and my relationship with him has brought about a much needed wholeness. In more ways than one I’d be lost without him.
This morning I shared a sermon with my congregation on the need to share our faith with others. I wish more of us were like jewelweed, that when God touches us we would send the seeds of His love flying in every direction. You would think that we would…
–Chuck