My Alien Left Hand

In Peru, most everyone knits or crochets.  We have sheep and llamas and alpacas in abundance, so knitting is a skill that most people learn in childhood.  In daily functions, it ranks right up there with walking, breathing, and eating.  I have tried really hard
to fit into the culture and learn to knit.  I’ve really worked on being culturally appropriate and becoming one with the yarn and the people… but honestly, I can only knit one particular stitch (and it isn’t very pretty).  I can crochet an incredible “rope” for a Barbie, but that’s where my talents end. I even had one Peruvian lady say to me, “If you can’t knit, what good are you? 
Everyone can knit!”  Sad day. 

I knew I had found my Peruvian best friend when I finally met a woman who admitted that she couldn’t knit or crochet.  In fact, she said that she hates it!  I can’t tell you how much better this made me feel!  Elva might not be able to knit, but she is the queen of embroidery.  All of the women in our community admit that Elva is the best.  She embroiders the most elaborate
Peruvian traditional skirts you have ever seen. Embroidery is also something that most women on the mountain do, so I saw my chance to “fit in”… I would become an apprentice to Elva and learn to embroider from the master.

Well, I must say, the technique that Peruvians use is amazing and difficult and fascinating. These ladies know more about color and art than anyone I have ever met.  And they are FAST!  They can embroider entire flowers, birds, and butterflies before I can finish the petal of a daisy!  And they embroider with both hands actively.

I learned very quickly that, although I am much better at embroidery than I am at knitting or crocheting, I am still no
expert.  My right hand seems to understand the big picture and it works diligently. However, my left hand seems to have a mind of it’s own.  It’s like it isn’t attached to me.  My brain tells it to go up and it goes down.  My brain says “go a little left”and my hand inches further and further to the right.  It has even gone so far as to attack my right hand with the needle and cause bodily injury! What is wrong with this crazy left hand? Why can’t it obey what my brain is saying?  My brain knows what my
hand should do, what it needs to do, but my hand just doesn’t seem to want to cooperate!

Little by little, my left hand is beginning to learn.  It is, by no means, a “skilled worker” yet, but we are getting there.  Occasionally, it still goes rouge and does something crazy. And occasionally, it still has a radical moment when it stabs my poor right hand.  For the rest of my body, it is a practice in patience as we slowly learn and train the left hand.

This reminds me of Paul in his letter to the Romans (Rms. 7:14-20).  In short, he says, “I do not understand what I do.”  And, “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot seem to carry it out.  What I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.”  Paul is talking about sin in his life and the constant struggle that it is to try to train himself to do what is right, but his flesh continues to go it’s own way and do what is wrong.  Much like my alien left hand who continues to do the opposite of what my brain is telling it to do!  However, also like my left hand, with continual practice and patience and
attention to the problem, slowly we learn and grow and begin to obey and do what we know is right.

I’m working on my struggles with my left hand. 
I’m also working on my personal struggles with my flesh. 
I know that sin will be a constant struggle in this life and I won’t be made perfect until the end, but I also know that with attention and patience, perseverance, prayer and connection to my Savior,  I can do all things through Christ! 
(Maybe even learn to knit…)