Sometimes, an event, or several together, interrupt the life we’ve crafted, the life we enjoy. Sometimes, one that involves our bodies. One that can bring negative and positive changes. Maybe you can identify. For 75 years, my body has treated me well, much better than I have on occasion done to it. A decent athlete—rarely picked first on choosing teams, but usually second or third. Decent strength—a USC football offensive lineman couldn’t pin me in arm wrestling. Decently healthy and functional, playing competitive football and softball into my late 50s. Riding 1,080 miles on a motorcycle in 16 hours at age 70. Honestly, I felt more pity than empathy for those not with those attributes. Yeah, a sin that I feel no pride about. Then, in a few months, life interrupted.
A prediabetic diagnosis, along with moderate sleep apnea. A tweaked knee that brought pain when walking. Some heart arrhythmia and palpitations that led to discovering the worst issue: an aneurism in the ascending aorta. Guess the former is a blessing since I wouldn’t have known the latter without it. Yes, this all is changing my life. Yet, no more than many of you now face. No more caffeinated coffee. Wearing a knee brace on walks with daily physical therapy exercises. Cutting down sugar. Lessening my intake of steaks. Wearing an oral appliance every night…and cleaning it the next morning. Getting a CT every six months. Not lifting more than 20 pounds. No pushups and curls to slow the loss of muscle mass. The list goes on.
Not to brag nor gain sympathy, but to confess. I chose false pride. I sometimes mistreated my body. Most of all, I quietly looked down on those not equally fortunate. But God does work in all things for His good, and this has taught me two lessons that I needed.
First, I’ve learned to empathize more with others. Those with obvious pain and struggle, those with unseen issues. I need to do this more, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Rather than pity, I can grow in understanding and identifying and empathizing with all, and to do it intentionally. This can take my relationships with people to a new and needed dimension.
Second, I need to rebalance my focus between the outward and inner, to greater emphasize the spiritual. Notice the cause effect connection here, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). At varying levels, we all face physical decay sometime, often beginning in our thirties, earlier for some. We all have “light and momentary” troubles, but only small and short in view of eternity. So as our bodies decay and we face troubles, we focus more on working with God to renew our spiritual depth, our intimacy with him. The benefit? We gain more eternal glory. Yes, these physical issues have cost me some activities I enjoy.
But I can use that loss to focus on what lasts. Forever.
Kick Starting the Application
How can you improve your balance between the temporary and outward physical world and the eternal and spiritual world?