Lesson 10: Soul Tending Inward through Honoring the Body
(See Soul Tending, pgs. 44-46)
Most of us take our bodies for granted. We don’t notice the miracle of our organs and systems until we get sick or injured. Then we may marvel at how the body can heal itself. We inhabit the physical self, our one body/mind/spirit, yet many of us this of ourselves in separate parts. I think (mind), feel and connect to God (spirit), and move or act (body). Yet God made us to be whole selves and called us to physical, spiritual, and mental health.
Take a moment and read 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. Why did Paul use the image of clay jars (or, in other translations, earthen vessels) to describe the human body? What do those images suggest? What are the main points of this passage? What does verse 10 mean? How do we make “the life of Jesus…visible in our bodies?” Read the quotation from 1 Corinthians 3:16-17b. What does it mean to be the “temple of God”?
We don’t always carry with us the knowledge that we are “temple of God.” We act in ways that harm us, body and soul. Think about the ways to honor God in our bodies when it comes to: diet, physical activity, sexual activity, alcohol and drug use, promoting positive mental health. In what other ways can we honor the body? What are some reasons we sometimes dishonor the body?
Studies show that mental and emotional health is closely linked to physical health. When our physical body is healthy, our spiritual life i much happier and content. Regular physical activity can help us stay balanced when we experience times of stress. What sorts of exercise do you enjoy and how might you be able to maintain a regular exercise routine? What would it take for you to love your body? How might you fully grasp that God created you to be a beautiful human being?
Each of us can take steps to claim and maintain our own health. We can eat a healthy, balanced diet with lost of fruits and vegetables. We can follow a physical regime that keeps our cardiovascular system strong and our mental state alert. We can abstain from abusing substances that are harmful to us. We can carefully think through all our choices, asking, “Will this help me be healthy? Am I honoring God in me if I do this?”
Homework: (1.) Keep a food diary for one week, writing down everything you eat. At the end of the week, think about your diet. Is it healthy? How could you commit to healthier eating? (2.) Journal about your relationship to your body. What do you do to stay fit and healthy? Do you see yourself in partnership with God who made you? Think about he gift of health. How can you work to stay healthy? (3.) Pray about giving up negative behaviors that keep you away from wholeness and health. Seek support from friends, family, or a recovery program to battle any addictions. (4.) Meditate on how your emotional and spiritual health are linked to your physical health. (5.) Do online research about a subject that may pertain to your own body experience, for instance, marijuana use, sexually transmitted diseases, eating disorders, or maintaining an exercise regime. (6.) Look straight into a full-length mirror for five minutes each day this week. Observe the wonderful creation God made in you. If you like what you see, thank God. If you don’t like what you see, pray that God would show you how special and wonderfully you are made. Talk to a trusted friend or mentor about ways in which you can learn to love and care for your body.
Reflect: How does caring for your body effect your daily life and that of others?