("Touched" originally posted on 10/12/14)
The human touch. Reaching out. To another person. To a pet. Touch is important to us. We either welcome it or repel it. The situation determines our reactions to touch.
As a writer/author, touching a reader is paramount to me. I don't write humor or horror so I'm not necessarily trying to make someone laugh out loud or scare them to the point where they'll be sleeping with the light on for a few nights. I want to touch that emotional place - and hopefully one that reaches the spiritual heart - to incite involvement, investment, and interest in my characters and their circumstances. Without those reactions to my words I've failed to touch the reader, to make them care about the story.
Most writers can't make all readers happy. Few novels have universal appeal. But for those willing to take the time to read my books, I definitely want to leave them with having felt that special touch only words and a good story with amazing characters can evoke.
Touch is more than a tap on the arm or a hand held in affection. Touch is personal. To welcome touch means someone invites that communication. A mere handshake can convey all kinds of feelings just from two hands interlocked, positive and negative. Like touch, words have all kinds of innuendoes, again both positive and negative. Implicitly or explicitly, authors want to touch people - because without touch we have no connection to each other.
Father, thank you for repeatedly touching me with the awareness of your beauty, love, perfection, forgiveness and grace. Nothing compares to you and your touch. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.