Hugs

I just knew I wasn’t getting enough. I am way under the usual quota. Of course I’m talking about hugs. I read an article yesterday that we need at least 8 hugs a day and that’s just for maintenance. For growth we probably need more like 12. I don’t know about you but I’m way short of that. Check out the article for ten reasons we need that many hugs.

Here’s just a summary:

If I’m going to get 8 to 12 hugs a day, I’m going to need a strategy. My family is really loving but I think I’m going to need more victims folks to hug than just them. The really good news is that you don’t have to be the one who is hugge. You don’t have to go around with a long tear-stained face looking like you need a hug. It turns out there is just as much benefit to the initiator as to the one being hugged. The truth is hugging is a mutual thing.

With political correctness raging about we obviously have to be on our guard. Our neighbor’s new trophy wife or kids we don’t know at the playground should probably not be  on our go grab and hug ’em list. I don’t plan to start hugging judges, jurors, or opposing attorneys when I go to court, but heaven knows they could all really use a hug. I don’t think I’m ready to hug strangers on the street. I don’t plan to go on hugging trips into strange neighborhoods after dark.

However, you might be surprised at who would really appreciate a hug. I have hugged killers, rapists and armed robbers. These were some of the best hugs. There is a lot of hugging that happens in Kairos. We are trained not to jump right in it with new inmates, but we have done Kairos at Angola for about 20 years and word gets around. We usually get hugged the first night. There is not a lot of hugging that goes on in a maximum security prison, but there is plenty of need.

I’m surprised we don’t see more hugging in church. Jesus told us that folks would know that we are His disciples by how we love one another. Seems like hugging would one way to show that. Handshakes and smiles are nice. Hugging just takes it up a notch. Visitors often say they were not even talked to or noticed. Wonder how they would feel about a hug.

Of course, we have to be proper. It’s okay for men to hug men and women to hug women and yes for them to hug each other. It just has to be done appropriately and with an understanding that people have different comfort levels,  especially at first. But I don’t think we should be ruled by political correctness. Prayer, a little discernment and a willingness to take a risk are all great qualities in a hugger. Remember it’s hugger, not mugger.

Well you have been forewarned. I have a twelve hug a day goal and you just might be next. Maybe we should have name tags. Some would say, “I need a hug.” Others might say, “Maybe tomorrow.”

Happy hugging.