Day 8 - Motivated Movement

"Beloved, I hope you are prospering in every respect and are in good health, 

just as your soul is prospering."

(3 John 1:2) 

Yesterday, we reflected on the Perfect Body. It is crucial to our true beauty that we do not focus solely on the body. However, the caution should be made that this does not mean we are to neglect our bodies. The body has such a crucial role in our ability to live the vocation that we are called to and to become holy. Some of us will suffer physical aliments that will be our way of uniting with Christ to carry His cross, and that will be our way to holiness. Some of us are relatively healthy and capable of physical endurance that brings health to the body. Regardless, we are all called to care for our bodies to the best of our ability. 

Note: to care is not to be obsessed. We must have the right mindset about health. God gave us our bodies so to glorify Him, to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. He entrusted them to us as a gift, a gift that we should be take care of with due diligence. For women, we can easily become enraptured in the lie that we have to exercise and care for our bodies to have that worldly "perfect body." With these selfish motives, our diligence to care for the body is not pleasing to the Lord. However, if we have the right motives, to make our bodies strong and healthy so that we can answer the call that God has for us in life, then He is very pleased. 

Anyone who has been called to motherhood, can attest that it takes physical endurance. When our bodies are strong, our hearts are healthy, and we have energy for the day, we can perform the duties of our vocation with joy. Even if we have physical limitations, we know that eating healthy and doing what we can to be active is crucial. Those who are not mothers, perhaps high school & college students or young adults, also know that healthy eating and exercise allow them to pursue their current responsibilities with greater efficiency and success. 

When my inquisitive daughter asks me why I work out, I have learned to be very careful in my response. I do not want my daughter to begin to believe at an early age that weight defines or that exterior beauty is the focus of exercise. She has even made comments about being thin, comments that I very quickly try to meet with the truth. When she asks me why I care for my body, I tell her simply because I need my body to be healthy and strong so that I can love and serve God and live my vocation to the best of my ability. I delight in the fact that she now enjoys running along side me and doing work outs to the best of her ability. I want her to be healthy and to respect her body as a gift from God. 

Our mindset about psychical active effects a wider range of people than we may think. With the right attitude we can help others serve the Lord. Yet, we have to be careful not to put too much emphasis on the body, even in terms of health. St. Paul wrote to Timothy, "Train yourself for devotion, for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future" (1 Timothy 4:8). Our physical health is of limited value, it serves the soul. This is why someone who is dying of cancer can glorify God with their body, in its suffering state, because their limited health cannot take away the promise of the eternal life of the soul. In all things the body and the soul are intricately united. 

St. Paul also writes about training our souls as we would train our bodies for a race. His wisdom guides us to use our physical activity as a medium for training in holiness. We can set out for a run, sports practice, or work out, and offer it up for our holiness, the conversion of hearts, the forgiveness of sins, someone in our life who is suffering. We will be amazed of the spiritual fruit that endurance can produce. We can take our ear buds out and instead of drowning out our boredom or pain with music,  we can pray. Meditate on Scripture. Have a conversation with God about our day, our dreams, our questions, etc. The training of the body should serve the health of our souls. 

May we take care of our bodies for the right reasons. Grounded in truth, may our physical training lead our souls to health & holiness. 

Today's Challenge: 

Complete a physical activity in accordance with your ability. Whatever it may be, read 1 Timothy 4:8 before you begin. Then offer your activity up with the intention that your mindset about caring for the body will be rooted in the truth and help you to live your vocation with holiness. 

If your health or circumstances limit you from performing physical activity today, focus on healthy eating or perform a spiritual exercise instead. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, you are the creator of my body and my soul. Help me to understand how intricately united the two really are, and to pursue the health of both. I offer you any suffering present in my body. I offer you my health. May my body be as healthy as you will for the sake of my salvation and the glory of Your kingdom. Amen.