What Is The State Of Your Health?
“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.” ~ Arabian proverb
When we are young, issues of health generally do not mean anything to us. If we get sick, we bounce back quickly. If we break something, we heal just as quick. We do not think about prolonged illnesses, compromised joints, and a whole litany of ills.
As we age, however, that becomes an entirely different story. Flu like symptoms that used to take us a couple of days to kick can often take a couple of weeks. Arthritis can cripple us up. Heart conditions, high blood pressure, and a host of other problems vie to become our best friends.
We know how we feel when we are well and we know how we feel when we are not. The smiles that are so easy to summon on our good days are practically impossible to bring to our faces when we are miserable. The hope that we embrace when we are well is hard to consider when we are ill.
It is not only physical health or physical illness that affects us. Spiritual health is just as important. If we are spiritually healthy, we will have hope. If we are not, hope is hard to come by. Just as there are things that we can do to keep ourselves physically healthy, there are things that we can to to improve our spiritual health.
Prayer is of primary importance. If we do not maintain a conversation with God, we will flounder in the faith. If you have an exercise regimen to maintain your physical health, consider coupling a spiritual regimen to it. As you walk the track, pray the rosary. As you hit the treadmill, talk with God. A lot of people spend their time watching television or listening to music when they workout. Think about how you can double your workouts by exercising your prayer life.
Performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are important to the Christian as well. Visit the sick or shut-in, pray for the dying and the dead, or work in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Become a religious education instructor or a teaching assistant. Finding a way to help others on a regular basis can help keep your spiritual lives healthy.
FAITH ACTION: Make sure to schedule time in your day to pray, reflect, and simply rest in the Lord.