The Left Hand

Well we are back after a month in Ghana, West Africa where Suzanne (my wife) and I lived with our family from 2006-2008 when she served as a Fulbright Scholar. Ghana is like our second home, a place that feels as natural to us as Central Texas, though as you would expect, life there is quite different. This summer Suzanne taught at Ashesi University College (www.ashesi.edu.gh) for seven week, and I took Anna (our youngest), and joined her for the month.

One of the things that is difficult in our transition back to the US is the use of the Left Hand. In Ghana, the left hand is culturally not used for receiving, or giving items. Historically known as the toilet hand, one is becomes very sensitive to not using it, or if you must, then using both hands, or apologizing for its use, “pardon my left…” Coming back, it feels awkward when I use my left hand, I am conscious of its use, telling myself it is OK, I can receive something with it and not offend.

One time when we were volunteering at an orphanage outside of Accra, the capital city, I watched as our kids played a game of duck-duck goose. Her name was Gloria, and she was a bit disabled so it was difficult for her to run around the outside of the circle, compounded by the fact that she had to pat everyone on the head, and then with her right hand, crossing over her left, because she was running around counterclockwise. How deeply ingrained this tradition is, I thought.

I was already thinking about my left hand when in my devotional I read Psalm 16:8

⁸ I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken. (NIV)

I wondered how that verse reads in Ghana, how it might be different from our understanding, and was surprised to see that in Biblical times, the left hand also had negative connotations at end of time when the nations have gathered before the son of man, who will come to divide them like a shepherd,

“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt. 25:33)

Those on the left he shall say

“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).

I wonder if this traditional use predates the introduction of Christianity, or was it an early adaption to scripture? What I do know is that I think about which hand to use, to wave, to accept, or to give a lot these days.