Sometimes you can fret too much about trying to follow all the cultural rules. We are at the media camp this week and the culture guides for Thailand say that we must never touch a Thai, especially never on the head (shows disrespect). Also, though we are married we must not show affection in public (e.g., “a goodbye kiss,” walking with our arms around each other). As we are a pretty affectionate family we have been thinking about these things a bit.

As the camp opened, we greeted the Thai’s with the wai (hands together as though praying to them), but the Filipino team from our church with the customary kisses and hugs for that culture. By the second day, Sherry couldn’t take the tension of different levels of greetings and decided that since she is a mom she will just mother everyone equally, so on the second night as we left she went around and kissed everyone on the cheek. Thai boys blushed, the girls giggled a little, but everyone felt the love.

Last night after a particularly powerful worship and prayer time, the whole group started going around hugging each other…and crying sometimes. The more they hugged, the more they through themselves into it.

Even in “no touch” cultures, humans are humans. Everybody needs a hug.

The New Testament instructs all of God’s people, “Greet one another with a kiss of peace” (or whatever the warmest possible acceptable greeting might be in your culture). Christians touch. That’s the point. That’s how healing flows to the sick and the lonely. Go touch some people today. Spread the love.