A lesson on octopus arms...

A few weeks ago I got my hair permed.  As my hairdresser (weird word, but that's a different story) was putting my hair in the curlers, she asked me if I could hold a chunk of my hair for her.  I of course did this and thought to myself, "Man, how convenient would it be if we had more arms like an octopus."  I have thought this many times throughout my life, but this time it caused me to pause.  If my hairdresser had more arms she would not have needed my help and thus we would not have interacted in that way.  Think of all the other ways we wouldn't have to interact with people if we had more arms.  We would never need help opening a door or carrying something.  Cooking with someone else would maybe just turn into an annoying occasion instead of an endearing one.  And, you would never need someone else to help you scratch that spot on your back that is both too high and too low for you to reach yourself.

It occurred to me (and this may be incorrect) that maybe God created us with two arms so that we had to interact with one another.  And, when you think of it, not only interact but learn a little bit about humility.  It can be humbling to admit that you cannot do something on your own and you need someone's help.  Having two arms can also provide a lesson of selflessness; for example, if you see someone with their arms full walking towards a closed door you have two choices: A) pretend you didn't see the person and that they couldn't possibly need your help anyways, or B) go out of your way to open the door for them and help them inside.  Choose selfishness or selflessness.


Like I said, maybe that isn't exactly why God made us with only two arms, but it kind of made me think.  It also led me to reflect on all the other areas that I need people in my life.  Let's be honest...that's a lot.

John Donne said "No man is an island, entire of itself," and further in Provers 27:17 it says "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

We, as human beings, are not meant to be alone.  Just as God is triune and in a continual love relationship, we too are meant to love him and love others and be in selfless relationships.