It seems like it’s popping up in newspapers, TV and books almost every day. In general, people living in the USA are not physically healthy compared to other countries. In some cases, we are overly obsessed with our health and it other cases we are woefully neglectful of our health. Somewhere between these two extremes lies a good balance.
I believe a law was passed some years ago that restaurants and food stores needed to clearly state what was in their food–how much sugar, salt and proteins are there, and how many calories we are actually eating. We’re led to believe that if we stopped eating this or started eating that we would avoid certain illnesses or add years to our lives.
I’m not sure how much knowing this helped us get any healthier. I’m reading that far too many adults, as well as kids, are dangerously overweight, and that we are spending far too much on prescription meds to help us get better so we can live longer. Ozempic being the latest!
How’s that working for us? Not very well I would surmise. It may be like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. Experiencing good health is more complex than just what we eat
In my stash of memory verses, I have two that deal with health:
“A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy and wrath are as rottenness of the bones” ~ Proverb 14:30 Amplified Bible
This verse speaks of how what’s going on in my body can be a result of what’s going on in my mind and heart. It’s what professionals call emotionally induced illnesses (EII). To some degree, some of us are in poor health because of worry, anger, fear, frustration and unresolved conflict. Or the poor health can be the result of running too fast for too long and not practicing appropriate daily and weekly sabbath. I have read several books by doctors which unpack the concept of EII’s. It’s more common than we think.
It’s not just a matter of what we’re eating that’s making us sick, but also what’s eating us.
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” ~ 3 John 2 ESV
This verse speaks of the connection between spiritual health and physical health. It may be telling us that out physical health is to some degree a reflection of our spiritual health; or John is desiring that his readers enjoy good physical health in the same way that they enjoy good spiritual health.
The important question is, what is it that we can do or not do that will very likely impact our physical health and determine how long we live.
My experience and study has led me to believe that sustained physical health is a result of the following:
- Getting adequate sleep
- Exercising regularly
- Establishing loved-filled relationships with a few people with whom we can be completely honest about what’s going on with us without fear of judgement or harsh criticism
- The level of stress we carry around without knowing it
- What we eat and how much we eat
- Our family of origin-our genes
It’s not just on or two of these, but all of them that will truly make a difference. A good diet will not, in and of itself, keep us healthy.
All but #6 are under our control as we are led by Jesus and respond to what He clearly wants us to do or stop doing.
In my next post, I’d like to unpack these six!
Obsessed with or neglectful of your health?
Prov 14:30 3 John 2
Sleep, exercise, eat, stress, Community, Genes
Recent Comments