I'm going to talk about being healthy, being fit and trim, taking care of our bodies, eating right. Those who know me know this is an issue that has been a source of trial and victory throughout my entire life. I have been a big proponent of healthy living and "whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. " (1 Cor 10:31) And I still am.
But the Lord has been dealing with me on the subject lately. All of those things--healthy, fit, eating right--those things can become an IDOL. Yes, imagine that! And perhaps not news. But even when we try to be temperate in our focus on it, are we really?
When you don't have time for both, have you ever been faced with the decision, "Should I read my Bible or go to the gym? "
Do you spend more time on being healthy, fit, and eating right than you do on your spiritual life?
Do you spend more time THINKING (aka "obsessing") about it than on kingdom matters?
Have you ever felt worse about an episode of overeating or skipping the gym than about missing a spiritual meal or an opportunity to be a blessing?
I have recently had some struggle in the area of eating and fitness after many years of solid victory, and have found myself intermittently obsessing....and now pondering the questions above.
Being healthy, fit and trim, and eating right matters, but it doesn't.
All I have is this moment.
In counseling couples, I use the concept of the Love Bank developed by Willard Harley, Jr. Every interaction between partners is either a deposit or a withdrawal into the other's love bank. That concept can also be applied to kingdom living. Every choice, every action, is either a deposit or a withdrawal into the kingdom of God. Each and every moment is an opportunity, and I can ask myself what is most beneficial in that moment. If I binged on a boat-load of ice cream last night and feel terrible today, does that even matter when I step into my counseling office? Do any of my clients care if my pants are tight or my arms are flabby? Or are they coming to benefit from my tender compassion, the Word of God, the wisdom, and all the treasures stored up in my heart? When a hurting friend calls me to talk, does the fact that I haven't gone to the gym in two weeks have any bearing? When my husband wants to go for a walk, take a jaunt to Anderson Island, or make love, how does it matter that I experienced a personal disappointment in myself earlier in the day?
It matters if I let it matter.
I am my own worst enemy!
An important tool in the overcoming toolbox is the wisdom and ability to shake off the blunder that just happened and make the next right choice. This tent my spirit and soul live in needs proper care if I am going to stay here on Earth and remain useful. Probably. Some people manage to live to a ripe old age even having sorely abused their bodies. It's definitely a risk, though. But my flesh-and-blood body is not going with me. It's not eternal. PEOPLE are eternal. What I store up in heaven is eternal. This earthly life in a flesh body tends to be fraught with temptations and set-backs, but each moment is still alive with the opportunity for me to choose something with lasting value. When you approach overcoming this way, crappy patterns of behavior lose their muscle. The stronghold loses its ability to impact.
You may have heard me talk about the 12-Step principle of "Act as If." Act as If you are FREE in this moment. Because in this moment you can be.
Then do the next right thing.