Jesus is my model for how to live.  So I try to understand what he said and what he did while he was on earth.  This sentence “Into your hands I commit my spirit” has challenged me.Jesus said this as he breathed his last on the cross (Luke 23:46).  He said it in a loud voice, even though he was in breath-robbing pain and intensely exhausted after his many hours of suffering under the whip, the thorns, and the nails.  His response to the intense suffering of the crucifixion was to commit his spirit into the Father’s hands.Could I do that?Could I experience profound suffering, and then declare loudly and boldly: “Oh Heavenly Father, I am now “committing” my spirit into your “hands?”To answer that question I looked up what “hands” mean.  The words in both Greek (cheir, pronounced khay-er) and Hebrew (yad)  imply the symbolizing of God’s mighty power, the same energy that created the universe and determines the destinies of men.  The word implies that the hand is open, as distinct from it being closed or fisted. The root of “hand” (cheir) conveys the idea of pouring torrents of rain down a channel or chasm.I wanted to understand this further, so I explored “commit”.  It  implies an intrusting oneself into the care or custody of someone.  It is used to describe someone coming to the aid of another, or a gardner caring for a vine.So the word picture I received was of Jesus releasing his spirit to the care of the Heavenly Father.  My Beloved let go and entered into a chasm of torrential rain which carried him away to the Presence of God.  The Scripture equates rain with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  The channel through which he and the water rushed was shaped by the open, caring, creative hands of the Heavenly Father.When I consider that powerful image of Holy Spirit power carrying me, and gushing down towards the Presence of God, who is the Gardener of my soul, I am thrilled.  I do believe I can say, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  Prayerfully, this soul picture will ease whatever suffering comes my way.So when you are having a difficult time, close your eyes and relax back. Picture yourself being carried by a torrent of warm water, the Holy Spirit, gushing through the hands of God, and carrying you even closer to your Abba Father.In Christ,