The Open Hand
The Open Hand Image represents for me a hand open to give, as well as open to receive.
Out of living with open hands comes fresh new growth.
Living with open hands is an expression of an open mind, open heart, and open will.
But this begins with being fully present and learning to See and Hear at a deeper level.
Open eyes see beauty, represented by the flower,
in every person and everything in creation.
Not only does living with open hands bring forth beauty
but it is also the source of the passion of compassion.
The flames of love are not stifled but are fanned
into all-consuming, all-embracing, all-inclusive, unconditional love.
There are two distinct approaches to living life:
Open hand living
or
Clenched fist living
Our hands are an expression of our heart and mind, our inner self.
As an artist expresses the inner self . . .
As a warrior expresses the inner self . . .
As a villan expresses the inner self . . .
As a thief expresses the inner self . . .
. . . Through the hand,
So do we in our every action and re-action
To people and to life
“Think of the difference between being confronted with a clenched fist and being offered an open hand. The clenched fist signifies threat, rejection, arrogance, exclusion, refusal, anger and violence. The open hand means friendship, help, peace, sharing, communication and connection.” (fr. Vivian Boland: see his full sermon, Clenched Fists or Open Hands, here http://torch.op.org/preaching_sermon_item.php?sermon=620&ref=preacher)
Clenched fist living contrasted with open hand living
| Clenched Fist | Open Hand |
| Threat | Invitation |
| Hidden | Revealed |
| Uptight | Relaxed |
| Defensive | Inquiring |
| Stagnation / Entropy | Open System |
| Barrier | Connection |
| Sees Limits | Sees Possibilities |
| Energy Bottled-Up | Energy Released |
| Closed Mind: knows all, opinionated, full of certainty | Open Mind: always learning, inquiring, anticipating |
| Closed Heart: guarded, controlled, fear | Open Heart: embraces change, diversity, people |
| Conquers / crushes risk and the unknown | Embraces the unknown and seeks new possibilities |
| Competition | Collaboration |
| It is all about ME | It is all about ALL |
Living with Open Hands 
December 3rd, 2013 → 7:36 am
[…] Living with Open Hands […]
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May 2nd, 2017 → 6:18 am
[…] The Open Hand […]
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April 9th, 2019 → 8:10 pm
[…] Living with Open Hands […]
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November 3rd, 2023 → 1:37 am
[…] (here and now). Be there all along: that is the message. That is quite challenging in what we call the setting-sun world (contrasted with the rising-sun world of the open hand), the world of neurotic comfort where we use […]
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