Taking Care of the Temple

Except for the time I was gravely ill and lost down to 106, I’ve had a problem with being overweight. Years have passed with the yo-yo in place.  Losing.  Gaining.  Losing.  Gaining.  And with the life-impacting issues I’ve had the last few years, I just couldn’t care.  

I now care … again.  

I decided to actually experience how much 40 pounds weighed.  That’s how much I needed to lose.  I drove to a sporting goods store and walked to the aisle that had the handheld weights. I picked up a 10-pound one.  It was heavier than I thought it would be.  I needed to lose four of those.  There was no way I could carry four of them in my arms. And sporting goods stores don’t have grocery carts.  Back to the cashier I went.  

“I need help.”  

Boy was that an understatement … for more than just carrying those weights.  Each day I traveled on my two feet with 40 extra pounds.  I bought the weights.  Again, I asked for assistance to carry 40 pounds to my car.  He gathered them in his arms and easily took them to the car for me.  

When I arrived home, I removed the weights one at a time and took them in the house.  Finding a sturdy cloth bag with handles, I placed the weights in the bag … and tried to lift it. 

I was appalled.  Each day I burdened my body with that much heaviness.  

Overweight can cause many problems … knees, heartburn, high blood pressure … need I go on?  I’ve managed to escape those so far. 

I can report I’ve taken one 10-pound weight out of my bag.  The 30-pound bag is still appalling.  

I have a lovely house.  And I do maintenance on it to keep it that way.  If I let it go, there would be issues.  Again, with my car.  I meticulously take it for service and make sure it has the correct gas in the tank. 

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Yet I abuse it.  

Temples are sacred and very well maintained.  Shouldn’t I at least do that with my personal temple?  

There is no preaching going on here.  I’m putting my thoughts about me on paper. I hope to remove the next weight in another month.   

“Doyou not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)