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Forgive Me for Loving My Body

Forgive me for loving my body
I love it even more so
because of God.
When I look up in the sky and I see the millions of stars,
the galaxies,
I am in awe of God.
Likewise when I see a beautiful person possessing the FULL package
a beautiful body,
a mind that reflects Christ,
an inner beauty that is transparent of Christ,
I am wowed even more.
He made it all!

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The Rebirth

How many of us know of babies who were born doing the right things? They did not put things in their mouths. They did not mark on the walls; they colored only in their books. They did not throw any food on the floor. As they formed their first words, two words they automatically said “Thank you”. Learning a new lifestyle is quite similar to a rebirth experience. For those who follow the path of Christ, this new way of living is physical, mental and spiritual. Learning the path of Christ is a whole new way of living.

This life involves choosing life even in areas concerning our diet. How many babies grow up loving vegetables and hating sweets? How many children can we think of who love their veggies? Even as adults we neglect to eat these products of nature. Instead our diets consist mainly of dead foods called processed or refined rather than the natural food from the garden. We are more comfortable with the taste of chemically engineered foods in our mouths or foods that have chemically changed.

In this rebirth experience, our taste buds must adjust. Some say our taste buds must acquire the taste for real food again. We have to learn to love it—experience its texture and natural flavor. What would these foods taste like with less sodium, or without any sauces? Some of us cannot imagine our foods without sugar. We load ketchup on our eggs, rice or anything for that matter. We kill the salad with the dressing. We didn’t even taste the ripe juicy cherry tomatoes, or crisp fresh lettuce. Learning to eat the right way consistently is a lifestyle not moments in time.

Learning to walk again is also a lifestyle. It’s called exercise which should naturally be a part of our life. Initially, when learning to move the limbs, the tasks seem laborious and hard. But as the energy of the Creator begins to flow throughout the body, we feel the magnificent hormones of pleasure called endorphins. He created them, so that we can enjoy the feel of His oxygen flowing throughout our bodies—His bodies. It is His breath we breathe.

We have to also learn to breathe again. As babies we once knew how, but as we became so-called strong and independent we learned to breathe on our own. However, we became shallow breathers as we became consumed with the day to days stresses of life, depending upon ourselves rather than our Maker.

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Embodying Christ

What is it to love God and to serve him with our whole being (Deuteronomy 11:13)? In other words, how do we worship God with all of our mind, soul and spirit when we live fragmented lives? For the most part, I remembered growing up when “spiritual things” were separated from the work place and, perhaps, continue to be. Recreation was outside of the church. We went to school to pursue so to speak “secular” careers—to use our faculties for the world not for the kingdom of God. However, every Sunday we paid homage to our sanctuaries or places of worship. And some were even called “Sunday” Christians as a result.

To love God with our whole being—heart, soul and mind, seems naturally to mean to embody Christ. In essence, such a statement would infer that in everything we do we should encounter God if we have purposefully included him in every area of our lives. Why can’t we find God at the kitchen table as we enjoy a good cup of coffee or in the kitchen while preparing a meal? Imagine how we can stir the love of God in other people’s lives as we share Christ in this big pot of stew called life. Or imagine going through a car wash? Have you ever imagined the Holy Spirit washing us like that gigantic looking mop slapping across the car windshield as it cleans? Well, maybe not “slapping” though some people may have experienced similar jolts in their lives that can be likened to spiritual awakenings or epiphanies. Or imagine after a good cardio run being so cognizant of the Holy Spirit breath in each movement of inhalation and exhalation.

To embody Christ is, indeed, personal and an experience that is personalized. As God uniquely created us with special gifts, talents and skills and desires, he also allows us to be of service to him in different ways. I remembered years ago watching the movie Chariots of Fire and hearing Eric Liddell say “When I run I feel God’s pleasure”. Then most recently, watching with delight to see Allyson Felix run and declare she runs for God’s glory. To run to feel God’s pleasure or to run for God’s glory is a desire that can only be motivated by love involving the whole being. What a way to celebrate Christ and to embrace him. Christ, for many such individuals, is an extension of their Sunday lives and becomes also a complete fusion of the persons’ body, mind, and spirit.