Has anybody ever described you as dexterous, adroit, or skilled with your hands? I watch and listen in utter amazement as the flying fingers of a really skilled concert pianist blur while producing the wonderful music of Rachmaninoff’s third piano concerto or one of the Trancenden tal Etudes by Liszt. What about the dexterity of a gifted neurosurgeon? Their skillful finger work isn’t generally on public display, but what they can do with their gifted hands is pretty amazing. My personal favorite is watching a really skillful artist sketch a quick portrait or a detailed picture of a 3-D object on a 2-D piece of paper. Though the word “dexterous” is defined as “skilled” or “adroit;” the root word dexter is the Latin word for “right” (in contrast to left). Why is my right hand more dexterous than my left hand, a trait that I share with nine out of 10 people in any given population? Why are only 3 percent of the population ambidexterous, meaning that they can write or throw easily and well with both hands? They have more symmetry to their body in terms of hand skills. So 97 percent of the population shows marked asymmetry in hand skills.
Scientific studies show that keyboard artists who start practicing young have less asymmetry in their hand skill because their left hand received more training while they were young. In general, they still have a more skillful right hand than their left hand. In one grip test study 90 percent of right -handed people had a stronger right hand, while only 10 percent had a stronger left hand. In contrast, 33 percent of left-handed people had a stronger right hand. What about lefties or southpaws? Some studies show that a greater proportion of them are high achievers. Four of the past seven United States presidents have been left handed.
I find it interesting that Bible writers focus on the right hand when they are giving assurance of strength or safety or a more important position. Sitting on the right hand of God often appears in such statements as “In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds” (Ps. 45:4, NIV). Right hand or left hand, it doesn’t really matter as long as we are in God’s hands, for “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29, NIV)..
“Dexterous Lord, hold me in Your strong right hand. Never let me go.”