BODY AND SOUL
By CHERYL CRUCE
At one point in my life, I was prolific in the gym. Recently, I found myself showing signs of neglect and age. I struggled with fatigue and motivation. All it took was for my daughter Tiffany to call and ask if I wanted to join the gym. It was a welcomed invitation that I quickly accepted.
It wasn’t long before the soreness and difficulty of the daily routine began to overtake me causing me to second-guess my decision. My body ached everywhere. At one point, even my eyelashes hurt from the strain of movement. Lifting weights, repetitive movements, and diet combined proved difficult, but I persisted. Finally, my persistence began to pay off as I felt the aches turn into a healthy burn of success.
I have often heard that muscles remember. Finally, mine remembered the joy of a workout. It had been years since I could maintain a healthy exercise schedule and a good diet. Yet, in just a few short weeks of working out, my head is clear; and I have noticed an increase in my energy level. My spirit feels peaceful, and I am rediscovering my confidence.
I find this lesson true: what a man feeds into his body affects his spiritual well-being. As the body needs physical exertion to maintain good health, so the soul of man needs spiritual training to maintain peace within. The proverbial flip of the coin teaches that a man who cares for his relationship with God also cares for his body. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and our body is temporal; however, our soul is eternal. Boosting our body is essential; caring for the soul is critical. Caring for both is the ultimate praise to the Lord who has redeemed us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). C.S. Lewis said, “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” If this is true, it is time to strengthen our core being, the soul of who we are. A strong person is wise because knowledge increases strength, and consequently, a person will become the well-rounded individual he was created to be, walking in the holiness of God (Proverbs 24:5).
We may exercise and consume protein shakes to enhance the body but consider the last nutrient you offered to your spirit. Was it words of anger or words of grace? Did you fill your time with activities contrary to the Will of God, or did you choose a fellowship with like-minded believers? Why is it that church is the most challenging habit to form and the simplest habit to break?
Here is an invitation for you. Become the soul you were created to be. Go for an evening stroll and thank God for the beauty of creation. Turn off the world’s chaos, pick up the Word of God, and read about His peace. Dismiss the anger of another before it penetrates your being. Search your soul for unforgiveness and offer forgiveness as freely as it is given to you. Find an accountability partner who will pray with you. Talk out loud with no one else in the room, knowing your Heavenly Father is right beside you.
“In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” – Oscar Wilde. Search for what is precious inside of you. In the beginning, you may feel the burn of persistence. Be sure of this; your soul will remember the presence of God. You will find your reward in Him.
“Like newborn babies, [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment].” 1 Peter 2:2 (Amplified).
Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.