Southpaws are okay, too

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."- Psalm 139:14

What do the following people have in common: Leonardo da Vinci, Charlie Chaplin, Bobby Fisher, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Deion Sanders, and Bill Clinton? Furthermore, one of every nine people who walk down the street share that same trait. We who share that common trait often feel a bit of discrimination–the "us versus them" syndrome. So what is it? We are left-handed. Yes, I’m included in that group which includes people from all nationalities and walks of life.

The ancient Romans thought that something was wrong with left-handed people, and the Latin word sinstra (from which we get our word sinister) described them. To them, being left-handed meant being insincere, double-faced, or hypocritical, much more than simply holding your fork with your left hand.

When I was a kid starting to write, I was bribed with a gold watch if I would switch and write with my right hand. I did, and since then no one, myself included, has been able to read my writing. In China, kids are still forced to switch. Going through a factory where ceramics were painted, I noticed that not a single artist painted with his left hand. When I asked why, I was told that Chinese characters cannot be painted well with the left hand. I’m still dubious.

Thirty-five muscles control the twenty-seven bones in your hand, making it one of the most dexterous, efficient tools ever created. Whether or not you have thought much about it, your hands are a vital part of your body language and express the emotions of your heart. When you are angry, your fists clinch. Your raised hand, palm extended outward, conveys the desire for peace. Split index and middle fingers stand for victory, a symbol that was used long before Winston Churchill used that sign. Even before the days when gladiators fought in the coliseum, a thumb raised up meant "OK" or life and pointed down meant death.

During the period of the judges, even before Saul was crowned king, some folks were left-handed. A man by the name of Ehud came to Eglon the king of Moab and said, "I have a message from God for you." Reaching into his clothing with his left hand taking a sword strapped on his right side, he delivered God’s cutting message. Among the men from the tribe of Benjamin was a contingent of 700 chosen men "who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss" (Judges 20:16). This reference may explain why left-handed pitchers in baseball, called "southpaws", are so accurate.

A business executive tells how, when he interviews people, he often scrutinizes their hands. Why? Hands tell a lot about you. They indicate nervousness, strength, or softness. They reveal whether you like the outdoors or whether your work entails hard physical labor, making your hands calloused.

I applaud those who have invented artificial limbs, enabling those who have lost a hand to have some sense of mobility in grasping and picking up things. I also know that most of us take our hands for granted. We seldom if ever think about their marvelous design until we injure a thumb or finger and then realize what a great job God did in designing our appendages. Thank God for your hands. Resource reading: Psalm 139

* * *

Guidelines for Finding Your Way is available in bookstores nationwide. For more information, write to Guidelines Philippines, Box 4000, 1284 Makati City or e-mail [email protected]. Visit our website www.guidelines.org.