In my last post, I illustrated the principle of reaping what we sow with examples from career and relationships. This time the focus is on health and spirituality. Lately, I’ve come to the realization that every decision I make about eating and exercising has downstream effects. Some of those effects are felt as soon as the next day while others not for a week or maybe longer.
Reaping What We Sow With Our Health
If I eat late in the evening, I can guarantee my sleep won’t be as restful because my body is resting while also trying to digest what I’ve eaten. When I eat sugar and/or wheat, my body reminds me how poorly I tolerate those foods with an onslaught of gas. When I skip a day or two of exercise, I can guarantee an increase in my stress level. Conversely, after a couple days of eating well I see a decrease in inflammation and an increase in my energy level and a general improvement in my mood.
Through my experiences, I’ve come to realize that never before have our bodies been in such need of regular maintenance. The foods we eat contain more chemicals than ever before, our jobs keep us more sedentary than in the past, and never have there been more ways to entertain ourselves by sitting in front of a screen be it a TV, computer, tablet or smartphone. Here are some questions to answer about your own commitment to health…
Do you visit your doctor once a year for a complete physical?
Do you take supplements to get the proper vitamins and minerals food doesn’t have anymore?
Are you exercising regularly?
Are you experiencing health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or elevated stress levels because you’ve not maintained your body?
Reaping What We Sow Spiritually
Finally, we reap what we sow spiritually. The connection we feel to the Lord is directly related to the time we spend with Him. When I go through tough times, I feel like I’m on a raft adrift in the sea. I know this is because I stubbornly refuse to put my problems in His hands. I see myself as the one who must “fix” everything on my own instead of being the one who gets my strength from the Lord. Ask yourself these questions about the spiritual maintenance taking place in your life…
Are you praying for others every day?
Are you reading the Bible daily?
Do you attend Mass each week?
When was your last confession?
If you take nothing else from this post, at least begin to understand that maintenance is an investment. When we see the time we spend on our relationships, our bodies, our careers and our faith as investments instead of inconveniences, we begin to realize true growth in all areas of our lives. My suggestion to you…sit down today and write out one investment you can make in each area of life I’ve touched on in these last two posts. Once you’re done writing – get started. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s plan for you will take shape.
“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,
but God who causes the growth.”
– 1 Corinthians 3:7 –
