Our Bodies and our Ministries
by Debbie Poer
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus’s words, His instructions to us, set the tone for the way in which we should be living. Over the course of 2022 e2 has looked at many topics that feed into the idea of preparing and doing as we have been instructed and commissioned. We know we must surrender our will to Him, have courage, compassion, and patience in serving, and we must rest along the way. This month as we look at A Good Word – Urgency I am drawn to the importance of being as physically fit as possible in order to serve God most effectively.
About a year ago, my husband, Jim and I had a conversation about the significance of 2022 in our lives. This year we will celebrate 50 years of marriage. Of course, that led to “How are we going to celebrate?” The plan unfolded into making an auto trip across the U.S. via Route 66, a long-time adventure we have wanted to take. But we also realized while not totally unhealthy, we were not healthy enough to do some of the things we hope to do on that trip. So, this past January we began eating healthier, exercising more, sleeping more, and generally trying to live healthier lifestyles. As we have made those life changes, I have become more aware of how my ability to serve others has been impacted.
What does all of this have to do with urgency? In order to be ready and able to serve others there is an urgency in caring for our own physical bodies. Yes, they are aging and wearing out (whether we are 20 or 90), but we still inhabit them and will until we draw our final breath and our work here on earth for God’s Kingdom is done. That means we need to be even more aware of our physical needs and capabilities and become even more proactive in caring for our bodies in that will hopefully provide longer use of them.
Are we serving in ways that are taking a toll on our physical body? Do I have the physical strength to participate in a house build or the endurance to run a fundraising marathon? How long will I continue to be able to lift heavy boxes of food at the food pantry? Instead of physical participation should I volunteer to sit at the registration table, staff a water station at an event, or put labels on envelopes for mailings? Even within the church setting, am I teaching toddlers or babies without the stamina to carry them or fully interact with their busyness? Should I consider working with an older age group?
Have I adjusted my eating, sleeping, and resting habits so that they best benefit this aging body? Poor eating habits and lack of sleep or rest can mean that I am grouchy, unable to focus, and even cause me to become ill. And how can I effectively serve if I am any of those?
The urgency in doing these things, beginning today and not tomorrow, I hope will keep my body stronger and allow me to serve in some way for many days, months, and hopefully years to come.
As I have pondered the importance of taking care of my body, starting today I am reminded of my wonderful father-in-law, who died six days prior to his 100th birthday. Every morning of his life, including the day he died Dad was up and dressed – dress pants and button-down shirt and he began his day with breakfast. Exercise was a part of his day too, by going for short walks, doing bending, and stretching moves. He would often tell us that he could not do much, but what he could do was compliment others with kind words and a smile. The amazing part of his ministry was the fact he was virtually blind and could hear almost nothing and yet he encouraged others.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Honoring God by taking care of my physical self begins this moment, without further delay. Then I will be better equipped to respond to the Great Commission.
