She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Temple

Many of us homeowners are well acquainted with spackle and paint. I even do a spackle and paint job on my face every morning!! Those cosmetic repairs won’t help if your home has an electrical problem or plumbing problem. If you are going to fix them, you need expert advice. The same goes for the various systems of your body. You can’t fix high blood pressure with a new hairdo. You can’t fix those achy joints with a new shade of lipstick. These cosmetic treatments won’t fix what is really wrong. I know, I’ve tried.

I was reviewing this bible verse today, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20. Now there’s some expert advice. When we realize that our bodies are not our own and how we treat it not only affects us but those around us, we have to conclude that we must take better care of this temple. That is one reason I decided to start eating right and exercising. That started a whole self improvement lifestyle that included discipline in other parts of my life. I watch a lot less television and hardly play video games now. I read more, pray more, love more, smile more, exercise more, and eat less but what I do eat is much better for me. I’ve found, of course, my energy is up and my weight and blood pressure are down. I think the two main activities that have lowered my blood pressure are the weight loss and praying. My burden is lightened two-fold: less physical burden to carry around and less spiritual burden to contend with. No wonder I’m smiling all the time.

Place the Oxygen Mask on Yourself First, Then Help Others

Although the holidays are always fun with the people and presents, it was a challenging one for me because I injured myself over Thanksgiving and spent December and January in a brace.  Don't worry, it only hurt when I breathed!!!  Not being able to exercise was quite a blow.  I did gain seven pounds during that time, but as soon as I could, I got back on the treadmill and pulled out the exercise bands and hit it.  I've now lost 50 pounds!!!  That's a small child or a good sized dog!  Those dark days of inactivity really made me appreciate my health and abilities.

Since I've embarked on this self-improvement journey of mine, I sometimes stop and wonder if it's just too much about me, me, me!  Each day I concentrate on what I (and my family) eat, what I drink, how I exercise, what I read, what I see, what I listen to, if I'm getting enough sleep, what I wear, and if I'm responding positively instead of negatively to a situation.  My Calvinist upbringing tells me all this emphasis on self is a sin.  But then I got to thinking, how can we bring joy into the lives of others if we, ourselves, are sick, tired, spreading gloom and doom of our own?  As the flight attendants say, we need to put the oxygen mask on ourselves first, and then help those around us. 

We need to be our best selves so we have the tools and resources to help others and impact the lives of those around us.  So many times, friends have come up to me and told me they can't believe how happy I am.  It's like I'm glowing with joy!  What a compliment.  I want to be the one that brings only positive things to the table, figuratively and literally.  There are so many negative things going on in the world today (same story, different era) and there always will be.  I just don't want to add to the huge stinking pot of smoldering poo in the world.  My actions here in little Jerome, Idaho, may not make a difference in the Middle East or North Africa, but it makes a difference in the lives of the people with whom I interact.  Feeling healthy and confident in myself gives me the incentive to say yes to helping those around me.  So, I may only be making a small difference globally, but in my own little part of the world, I think I am making a big difference.