To touch or not to touch…. That is the question

As we find ourselves wrapping up our exploration of Metaphysical Theology 1, I find myself struggling with more questions than I possibly have time to answer.

In our classroom conversation today we began to discuss the topic of touching verses not touching when someone is asking for healing prayers.  The topic seemed to be a bit controversial and in my opinion worthy of additional conversation and exploration…

To touch or not to touch, that is the question.  How does spirit move?  Does Spirit move from one person to another via touch? Is Spirit pulled out of one who is being healed via touch? Can one be healed via touch or is this hocus-pocus? Is it a figment of ones imagination? Is one really “healed” when they are touched by another?  These questions really make one ponder and consider varying points of view.  Sometimes another’s point of view was not even considered.   Dr. Tom posed a question in today’s class  “Does having one touch another for healing pull out what they already have within them?”…  I had not thought of it that way before.  I can only begin to understand this question by referring to my own experiences.  I can’t speak for anyone else on the subject.  When I attended a Catholic Healing service and the priest came by and made the sign of the cross on my forehead; I can say I received a healing.  In addition, I received a message that did not make sense to me at the time. Was the healing pulled out of me or did I receive the healing via the priest? 

If I go back into my childhood I never believed I needed to tell my sins to a priest to be forgiven because I could talk to God directly and God would forgive me for my sins; not the priest.  In comparing my childhood beliefs to what I experienced and combining it to what I know today… Well, that put’s a whole new perspective on things in regards to the healing I received “from” or via the priest.  It is my belief that if someone is asking for healing that in fact they are seeking an expression of God in someway.  They are looking for a manifestation of some sort.  They are open to receiving in whatever way it shows up.