Healthy Living
At
least a few days a week I have been trying to follow an exercise routine. After
all, I am over fifty and if I’m not purposeful about it, things can go downhill
pretty quickly (physically, that is)!
Most days I go to a local park and do a few laps of fast-paced walking
and running for a total of 2 ½ to 3 ½ miles.
There is also an outdoor workout area with bars and beams on which to do
pull-ups and sit-ups, etc. If the weather is bad, I’ll go to the gym.
Since
I usually go to the park about the same time each day, I see many of the same people.
There is the older woman who wears big sunglasses, a scarf, and a baseball
cap. There’s the guy who always wears
his hat backwards. There’s two groups
that consistently walk in the middle of the pathway: two older guys who seem to
be always joking with each other and three ladies who love their morning chat
and are pretty much oblivious to anyone who is trying to get by them. In the workout area, there are these really
big and strong guys who make me feel very small and weak. All kinds of people, young and old, of all
different races and backgrounds, coming together in one place for the purpose
of getting some exercise. All of these different people striving for healthy
living.
We
all know that if we are not purposeful about how we live—i.e. what we eat,
whether or not we exercise—we will put on the pounds, become weak, and
potentially end up with a variety of diseases. And the older we get, the more
purposeful we need to be. If we ignore
our bodies, things will begin to breakdown.
Most people, even those who ignore it, understand the importance of
physical health. What is so unfortunate,
however, is how many people ignore their spiritual health. Parks and gyms are filled with people who are
striving for healthy bodies but whose spiritual life—i.e. their relationship
with God—is anything but strong.
The
Apostle Paul wrote, “For physical
training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding
promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8 –
NIV) Just as our physical health depends upon our
exercise routines and the foods we eat—all of which takes great discipline and
has value—our spiritual health depends upon us maintaining the right routines
and disciplines: scripture reading, prayer, worship, service, and gathering
with other believers. As the Apostle
Paul reminds us, it is our spiritual health that is of eternal value.
So,
as the Apostle John wrote, my prayer for each of you today is, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good
health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along
well.” (3 John 2 – NIV)
Have
a great day.
Pastor
Tim Harris
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