Raise Your Hand

“If you want to change your life, raise your hand.”

"How many of you would like to ..."

I nearly wore my arm out raising my hand in three free seminars I attended this year.  In the one at a gorgeous Marriott hotel last Thursday, a younger, skeptical man sitting next to me refused to raise his hand, as he knew the presenter was “conditioning us” to finally commit and pay at the close.  True.

The body language of hand raising and refraining from it is fascinating to the presenter and some in the audience.  The expert sees a bold willingness to take action, or a stubborn, maybe fearful failure to act.  I figure it's a small price to pay for education, without worries, knowing my 40-year secret works every time in the end.  Besides, I want the teachers to have a good time, too.  Really.

The last seminar was fast food in the extreme!  Raising my hand every two minutes, I had to seriously pay close attention and take quick notes as the professional, highly-paid expert raced through technical material like I could never do.  Surprisingly, a lot was meat and potatoes that you would not expect to get free; (one of the concepts those companies have learned is the value of giving freely.)  It made me wish I could pay for the three-day follow-up course where I would really learn what flew by me, plus more.

You may recall hearing something like this in Sunday School class: 
"Without raise of hands, how many of you have ever held a grudge?"  But when you have a comment or question, you do what self-disciplined, respectful students do in public schools – raise the hand.

In General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as in local meetings, members raise their hand to sustain Church leaders.  It is a positive sign of commitment to engage in service to others, and accept the inspired leadership of God’s chosen servants, both male and female.  Yesterday was a good example of support among the fifteen million members worldwide.  Kay and I enjoy the sessions, and are content to relax at home while being fed the bread of life.  As speakers conclude their messages of love, we share comments without raising a hand.