Fingers Crossed

Have you noticed how many Olympic commentators are forever crossing their fingers, as they look forward to the bewildering number of events that are coming up? 

What is this expressions about?

For many people, it is shorthand for a hope and expectation that there may be a favourable outcome for whatever it is that is about to happen - whether it is a doctor's appointment, an exam, an interview and everything else under the sun (or rain - fingers crossed the weather will be better!)

I recall learning , as a bemused child at my first school in England, that white lies could be told, so long as fingers were crossed. No one on the playground, where I learned such ethical wisdom, could explain what 'fingers crossed' meant. 

So what is behind all this crossing of fingers?

Surprise, surprise, the original focus was on the death of Jesus, who was executed by the Romans, by being nailed to a cross.

St. Paul told his friends in Colossae that the death of Jesus was a powerful victory over all the forces of evil. As well as providing forgiveness for us, Paul points out that when Jesus died, it was as though he dealt with the charges against us that our moral failures have produced. But much more was also achieved by the death of Jesus, as all spiritual forces are defeated and disarmed as well. 

'He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.' (Colossians 2.14,15)

This is wonderfully good news, and everyday we can be living in the light of this wonderful victory.

In the early centuries, when many Christian people were living under persecution, crossing fingers was a way to reveal their Christian identity to a fellow believer. It was a secret code, a bit like the well known 'fish' symbol. But as well as a mark of identification, crossing finers was also a way of indicating that the person was trusting God for his protection and deliverance from evil forces. Over the years, the habit has continued, but most people have forgotten what it signifies, and it becomes merely another petty superstition.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, in dying on the cross, Christians have often learned to invoke God's blessing and protection, by focusing on that sacrifice for us. 

So instead of saying 'fingers crossed' when we are vaguely hoping that things might turn out well, we can remind our Heavenly Father that because Jesus has died for us, we humbly ask Him to protect and deliver us from all the forces of evil, so that His name is glorified. 

Best wishes,

Richard