A touch makes a promise that sight betrays

We desire to touch. We touch to know. We touch to feel connected, to feel human, to be aware of our own reality. As humans we get stuck on concepts, past stories, photographs. We are able to get stuck into a false reality within these mediums. A person or place that is real and true even to the eye may not able to be fully grasped or understood through just a story, photograph, discussion. “A touch makes a promise that sight betrays”. To touch we connect what all our ideas, concepts, and photographs have told us through our eyes or mind. To touch a place or a person is to know them more intimately, on a level that merely viewing cannot reach. 

Gordon’s study abroad program is rooted in getting to know or touching the city. With our own two hands actually feeling the brittle stoned tan colored walls that en-gate the medieval city of Orvieto. Or feel the cobble stone road ways underneath our sandals as we walk through the tightly built city streets. And to pick up the freshly made bread, which is still warm from the oven, with our hands. These things we have only just seen with our eyes through photographs, movies, and books. But to touch, to touch makes a promise in the heart. Some say once you’ve seen you can never turn back. That is a statement I do agree with and have said yet, when you touch the physical object of a miracle, a sub conscience agreement happens with in the heart saying now that i’ve seen and touched this is the truth. 

Many rag on Thomas and have named him the doubter, as if that was a bad thing. Thomas, if you look throughout the gospels, was the one who faithfully stood next to Jesus in any situation. For example in John 11:16, "Let us also go, that we may die with him" is what he answered when the disciples did not want to return to Judea in fear Jesus would be stoned. Doubt is an emotion, belief is a choice. In John 20:27-29, “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God!” (which is the  FIRST time in the gospels where Jesus is addressed as Lord and as GOD).

So if you break those verses down first we see Jesus willing and demanding Thomas to put his finger in His side so Thomas would believe. Jesus recognizes our humanness. He recognizes our struggle of doubt of believing in Him even when we see for our own eyes. When Thomas touched Jesus some kind of spark must have happened. Maybe the Heaven’s opened for Thomas, and he heard little baby angles singing a song while lightening and thunder rang in his head. Or when he touched Jesus’s side with his own hand, there was an agreement made in his heart and mind.  A promise made that said “You my friend are God MY and MY Lord. I knew this whole time, yet I even doubted.I stood next to you while you healed the sick, raised the dead, casted out demons. But now. Now that I’ve touched your side and your hands where I literally watched you get nailed to a cross and die. Now something clicked. Jesus i’m a physical person, I need to know all the facts before I make a decision. You know me. But I believe you not only are my Lord but also my God. Now that I have touched my heart chooses to believe instead of doubt.” Doubt is an emotion, belief is a choice.

Orvieto is more than I thought it would be. It's a magical city to say the least. Words do not describe nor photos the beauty and quaintness this place carries. 

I start first day of DRAWING CLASS tomorrow!!!! SO EXCITED! This is to good to be true.