Hug Someone!

Hug your child today. Hug your spouse today. Hug a friend today. Hug your Mom or Dad. Hug friends and members of your small group. Hug someone you run into who's having a difficult time. Hug your doctor. Hug a co-worker. Hug your mail carrier. Hug your pastor. Hug your teammates. Hug the single mother, or senior adult who attends your church. Hug the Barista at your favorite coffee stop. Hug your dry cleaner. Hug your mechanic. Hug the plumber. Don't worry about being "PC" when you hug. Just hug!

Lee Shapiro a retired judge in Northern California became famous for hugging total strangers. He started with people in his courtroom and pretty soon it spilled into the courthouse and into the streets. Shapiro's colleagues dubbed him the "hugging judge" and his story was told several years ago by "Chicken Soup for the Soul" authors, Jack Canfield and Mark V. Hansen. Shapiro hugged everyone and everywhere he went he promoted this simple act of unconditional love. He became so popular he was invited to speak about his hugging efforts at corporate gatherings and conferences.

Our world and culture needs more hugs. We have become a fenced-in, lock the doors, fence out the neighbors, turn on the alarm, suspicious society. It's not without good reason. Tragic events at the hands of mad men, or terrorists like the shooting at Virginia Tech University earlier this week more than justify heightened security concerns. As this story continues to unfold on the Internet and on television, I keep seeing people who need to be hugged. Students, surviving victims, victims' families, staff, faculty, emergency response personnel, police, hospital personnel and even reporters covering the story need a hug.

No, a hug won't bring Monday morning back and keep the terrorist from killing and wounding innocent people before shooting himself. However, a hug can convey the greatest empathy and sympathy. It can bring healing. A hug can say, "I'm with you, even though I may not be in your shoes." A hug says, "I care". You can't get enough of hugs and prayers. Praying people should be hugging people. Isn't it time we proved it? Let's start a hugging and praying revolution!