Visiting in Glasgow Royal Infirmary the other day, I was advised to put on a mask,
an apron and a pair of gloves before going in to visit a patient. This was to prevent
the risk of infection. It has been quite some time since I have had to do that, and
I was thinking about how my greeting of the patient would be affected by my new
attire.
Greetings are important for us as humans. Sometimes we might greet another with
a word, a smile, a nod, a wink, a kiss, a handshake, and as Rev. Edson Duque de
Castro was keen to share with us, a hug!
Any of these may be appropriate depending on the individual, occasion and
circumstance. As I greeted the hospital patient, I was aware of the distance
between us as we shook hands because of the barrier of the nitrile gloves I was
wearing. Somehow it wasn’t quite the same. Nevertheless, we had a good visit, but
as I left what I really wanted to do was give him a hug and say, “It will be ok, you
will get better and you will get out of this solitary room.” Thankfully he did and he
is now home.
Later the same day I was visiting in another hospital and this time met the patient
and some family members all at the same time. Greetings were on this visit quite
different, and I got chatting to the patient’s partner about different forms of
greeting. They kindly shared this poem with me, which I now share with you.

There’s something in a single hug that always warms the heart.
It welcomes us back home and makes it easier to part.
A hug’s a way to share the joy and sad times we go through,
Or just a way for friends to say, “we like you ’cause you’re you!”
Hugs are meant for everyone for whom you really care,
Your Gran and Grandpa, your neighbour too, or even a cuddly bear.
A hug is an amazing thing, it’s just the perfect way,
To show the love we’re feeling, but can’t find the words to say
It’s funny how a little hug makes everyone feel good,
In every place and language, it’s always understood,
And hugs don’t need new equipment, special batteries or parts,
Just simply open up your arms, and open up your hearts. (Anon)
That different form of greeting – the hug, has set me thinking about a specific
greeting we share as Christians. The Peace. I can still recall many years ago
celebrating Holy Communion with you for the first time, and afterwards an Elder
asked me why I had not included the passing of The Peace within our Communion
Service. I hadn’t done so because I was aware that not all Scottish Presbyterian
congregations are comfortable with this action. The next time we celebrated, and
ever since, I have included The Peace. As we say to one another, “The peace of the
Lord Jesus Christ be with you,” and shake hands, embrace or even hug one another,
we are displaying a prominent sign of reconciliation among Christians. It is so much
more than a simple greeting. So I say to you all, however we greet one another,
whether that be with a word, a smile, a nod, a wink, a kiss, a handshake, or a hug,
may the Peace of Christ be among us.