I throw off everything that could weight me down while I weigh myself–first thing in the morning, before a drop of water passes my lips. I smile because the needle settles a few pounds lower, and I know it’s because of my recent illness.
Sickness has its benefits.
I mentally pummel myself for all the times I’ve failed, for where I could be now if I’d finished everything I started. I might sport slimmer arms, a flatter tummy, brighter eyes, and a sharper brain. If I’d actually used all those videos, followed though with that Weight Watcher’s program, continued with the trainer, stayed the course with the treadmill/elliptical/bike, took more walks, splashed in more water, stretched more muscles. If I boycotted Dairy Queen and Pizza Hut and Laity Lodge cookies. If I drank more water. And since that last sickness, I’ve yet to restart my green smoothie routine.
When I stay up too late, I sleep too late, and I miss the wonder of the morning. Or I simply don’t notice it. I’m not efficient during the day, and I’m very, very cranky.
My lack of physical discipline weighs me down emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
It messes with my health in all spheres.
And I’ve noticed that if my spiritual life is whack, everything else weighs heavy.
So I’m both excited and apprehensive about reading The Life of the Body, this month’s book club pick through The High Calling.
The authors, Valerie Hess and Lane Arnold, remind us that we inhabit these bodies of ours, bodies that are fearfully and wonderfully made, and while we’re not to worship these temples, we need to be wise stewards of God’s good creation.
I ask that I might be mindful of my body, to notice that just as the stars in the heavens, the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air show me something of you, so does my body, which you made . . . I am noticing that sometimes this body, which is my vehicle for travel here on earth, needs a bit of renovation, just as my heart does each day . . . May I see the beauty in me that is there because of your invitation to life: body, heart, soul, mind and spirit. Amen. ~p. 21
Hess and Arnold also remind us in chapter one that Jesus dressed Himself in human flesh and entered our world at one point in time to show us how to live at this point in time, in the midst of our circumstances, within our individual callings, using our unique gifts.
His life had balance, brought into being by the rhythms of rest and work, prayer and playfulness, solitude and togetherness . . . We, as that body of Christ, show the world how to live by following the path Jesus walked. ~p. 26
He lives in our bodies so we can use our bodies to care for the whole body. So self-neglect can cause us to neglect others. And so it seems that over-care of others can also cause us to neglect ourselves. We need to find the right balance.
In chapter two, the authors go on to suggest that we can’t take care of the bigger body when we don’t take care of ourselves. Instead, we can become a burden. That it’s our responsibility to make wise decisions in our own health habits so we don’t create unnecessary hardships for others.
But if we are broken in some way, we’re to reach out to the larger body who should gather around us and help us gather our pieces.
Certainly “stuff happens” that’s no fault of our own, but . . .
Oftentimes, we are tired, overweight or in pain because of self-indulgent choices that were easy to make at the time. Yet, those choices can lead to hard situations, which may then rule our lives. The results are not God’s fault. The poor lifestyle choices we make regularly have an impact beyond our own bodies. They impact our very witness to the good news in Jesus Christ. ~p. 40
Ouch.
Ouch.
Ouch.
I’m a nurse, for heaven’s sake. I know this stuff. I should live this stuff.
I think I’ll have a green smoothie for lunch.
We’re discussing the introduction and the first two chapters of The Life of the Body: Physical Well-Being and Spiritual Formation over at The High Calling. Won’t you pop over and join us?
Stilled and pondering,
Sandy
“Every act of self-discipline by a Christian is also a service to the community. On the other hand, there is no sin in thought, word, or deed, no matter how personal or secret, that does not inflict injury upon the whole fellowship.” ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together
Oh, Snady, we should talk! I’m about 5 months into a major revelation about not neglecting or punishing my body, but taking care of myself. And what a journey it is! (And not without pain or missteps.) 🙂
It’s good to see you here, Sarah! As I read these chapters, I kept hearing Paul say he pummels his body. I guess there’s a difference between punishing and pummeling, right? It’s such a long journey, isn’t it? To find that balance. To get to that place where we’re not over concerned, yet concerned enough to care. xoxo
Ouch – me too Sandy. I should read this book, but right now I don’t have time for one more thing. I think I’ll let you sum it up for me. We can do this together.
And check in to THC on Mondays to catch everyone else’s thoughts. And it sounds like you’re working at that balance. That’s part of caring for ourselves. 🙂
Love to you, sweet roomie.
Sounds like a book I need to read. I’ve failed so many times at weight loss, that I don’t even try anymore.
I hear ya, Barbie. Maybe it comes down to small steps, not so much focusing on weight loss itself, but making more and more healthy choices, and letting our body take it from there in time. Small steps. Not getting sucked into those “lose 10 pounds in 10 days” promises.
I’m working on NOT missing of the wonder of the morning. {and} “self-neglect can cause us to neglect others” ~like putting on your oxygen mask first so that you can help others who need you. Yes.
Looks to be an eternally beneficial book. 🙂
Great analogy, Kathy!
Yes. I have meant to pick up this book for awhile. Trying hard. Life has been a lot of travel, a lot of change, a lot of eating anything to just get it done in the last year. I do enjoy the wonder of the morning, but where my day takes me after that is where the challenges and stresses loom. Going to try to hop on that book and follow the conversations. Thanks!
I know how that goes, Gwen. I find that when my life and surroundings are cluttered, my self-care habits are also cluttered–or simpler as the case may be. Meaning a fill-up at Mickey D’s or Taco Bell. Tosca Reno (Eat Clean Diet) suggests packing a cooler every single morning with healthy foods that you can grab from all day long. I haven’t been able to grow that habit yet.
Sandy, I need balance in my life concerning my health. I am small. When I went through my major depression something happened with all those meds that has “turned off” my appetite. I can eat and do, but I rarely feel hungry unless I smell something cooking. People alway comment on my size (I’m short too). I know this a problem many people would like to have but I don’t want to be frail when I am older. When I am alone, time passes and I forget to eat. I need to have more friends to ask me to lunch 🙂 When we go, I try to choose wisely. I have too many friends who are more consumed with healthy living than God. I like the idea of health and spiritual transformation going hand in hand.
Oh, Dea. Years ago, when my daughter was two, and I was exhausted, and my husband was gone a lot, and I had no help at all–my doctor put me on an antidepressant. And my weight skyrocketed. He said it meant the med was working. (A pastor counselor told us we needed to have more fun in our life, and we took his advice, got a sitter, and went on a date. It worked as we worked at that.) I came off the medicine shortly after, but I’ve never been able to lose that weight. I guess it goes both ways.
I, too, like the idea that as we go deeper spiritually, we perhaps are more in tune with caring for our temples. Praying right now for God to turn on that hunger switch for you–for Him and for your appetite. Maybe instead of weight loss accountability groups, we need healthy living groups.
BTW, my husband has often said he didn’t feel hungry until he smelled the food.
Lay off Laity Lodge cookies? What? No . . .
But seriously. Somehow I missed the announcement about the start of this book club, which is a shame because these are things I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’ve been playing around with ideas for a series on assembling a Soul Care Toolkit, recognizing that we are created mind, body, and spirit.
Guess I need to download another book to my Kindle 🙂
LOL! And those cookies are so easy to make…
I’d love the series idea. You’re going to do it, right?
Things that make me go hmmmm…
Hmmmm….
BooYAH! I tell you what, I truly, truly want to grow old gracefully and I know that requires some “heavy lifting” every now and then…spiritually, mentally, emotionally and yes, even physically. And when I fall off track (as you are reminding me here) I need a “do over” and an accountability person STAT!
That’s the thing. For me, it’s so easy to do that heavy lifting tomorrow. And tomorrow is here. I want more tomorrows.