Thursday Thoughts (8/25/16)

 If you are younger you may not be able to relate to this, but if you are older you might relate whole heartedly. In either case the point will hit us all. This morning as I got out of bed and hobbled across the floor to start my day, I thought to myself, “Look at you, you’re out of shape and you’ve put on the pounds you lost over a year ago”. In response I sat down on the edge of the bed thinking of how much I really needed to exercise, and how much I’d rather get my morning coffee and have a seat.

Then James came to mind (the biblical letter). James gave a warning against being like those who look in the mirror to see themselves as they are, and then turn and forget what they have just seen. James was speaking about spiritual things, but I was looking at the temple of God, that is my body. There is a connection, I believe, between out physical and spiritual well-being.

In the last few months I find that I am tired all the time. I can’t catch my breath when I bend over to tie my shoes. I realize that I am out of shape and I need to do something about it. However, as I walk through the grocery store I wonder, “how did that carton of ice cream get in my cart”. Every morning I complain how much pain I’m in and how I need to do something. But I am simply looking in the mirror and then forgetting what I’ve seen.

If my life is to be a glimpse of the goodness of God, shouldn’t my body be a symbol of a disciplined life. A life that is in balance. The Gnostics would not care because they saw the body as inherently evil. The bible on the other hand refers to is as a temple. My temple needs some work. Then I am reminded that the temple needs work because my soul needs some work too. If I cannot discipling myself with the temporal how much more am I not disciplined in my spirit.

So, this morning instead of my cup of coffee I decided to take one step closer to feeling better. I got on the treadmill for 30 mins. Then I realized, the first step to achieving a goal is stepping one step closer to it. (I know, brilliant, right.) I hear people all the time talk about how bad they feel, how they would like to do something different. Well if we just talk about it we are nothing more than a fool and his mirror.

Today, whether it is spiritual or physical take one step to achieve the goal. Take one step to make the change that God wants you to make. He does not want us physically broken, just as he doesn’t want us spiritually broken. Today, I used the treadmill for 30 mins. That’s a good thing I have added. Tomorrow I might remove the ice cream. Hmm, that’s tough, well I will try. After all discipline in small things will help with discipline in big things. If it was anything but ice cream.

Just a thought