Are You Mindful of Your Health?

Richard Hollerman

Hopefully (if you are a true Christian), we all are aware that our physical well-being does not come automatically. We know that part of this comes from God’s providential hand, but we also know that He expects us to use wisdom and common sense to pursue physical health. This includes you and me.

With all of the information available online, on TV, in the newspaper, in the news magazines, in educational settings, there is no reason to be Ill-Informed about health and all of its ramifications. Therefore, we must ask, “Are you mindful of your health?” Is this something that you take for granted or is it something that you pursue diligently? After all, we will only live for perhaps 70 or so years here in the life—and then comes eternity. What are we doing now to use our health for the glory of God?

Personally, I now wish that I had been more concerned about my physical health earlier! Although I grew up in a family that I loved and parents who loved me, still there was lack along the way. At that time and under those circumstances, we didn’t seem to be aware of the rules of health to any measure. In fact, this was only beginning to be understood at this time.

Thus when I was about age 17 I began to eat much better. I had seen and purchased a booklet in a supermarket on the evils of junk food and this made sense to me. I changed my diet appreciably. About this time (age 16 or 17) I also began to exercise three times a week for about two hours a session. Regretfully, this was more for strength than health and aerobics. At age 22 I moved to Eastern Pennsylvania (for fulfill my stance on the war) and I was around very health-conscious people. Again, regretfully, these people failed to really understand the basics of health although they were intent on this.

Then when I was about age 25 I read another book by Ken Cooper and this changed my exercise and diet routine even more greatly. Then, years later, when I was about age 40, while I was waiting for my used car to be worked on, I was reading another health. nutrition and exercise book. This caused me to make even more adjustments in my lifestyle. Further, every week I would make healthy and nutritional choices for the following week and listened to a health broadcast. This was a further eye-opening experience and it solidified my desire to eat and live in a healthy matter.

Thus, as you can see, this has been a learning process, step by step, to better health and physical fitness. This is probably the way it is for others as well, even though much more information is available at this point. We really have no excuse, as Christians, for ignorance in this matter.

According to the Wall Street Journal (and what I read) about ¾ (three-fourths) of people are overweight in America. We assume that the percentages may be less or different in other countries. According to this issue, people should eat a more healthy diet, including vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. They would best avoid foods connected to poor health, such as sugar-sweetened foods and drinks as well as refined grains and red meat. The same is true regarding fried foods, deserts, and sugary drinks. I would include “junk foods” of all kinds, “fast foods,” and so much more. (I have found this book helpful: Fast Food Genocide by Joel Fuhrman.)

The same source says that better sleeping such as too little or too much can add unwanted weight. We (as Christians) know that this is not just a matter of beauty but a matter of health and longevity. We also eat too much high-fat foods. (And there are several kinds of fats, as you must be aware.) These are some of the comments and recommendations, although we could add a dozen other suggestions. Remember that diet as well as physical exercise and lack of this exercise can lead to poor health now and a possible health crisis later. I hear and read of millions who die relatively young through diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and other ailments and this would be related, in part, to lifestyle.

When I moved to this area, I began physical exercise and that every day. And I have continued this year after year (even day, including today), all the while seeking to please God by the health decisions I have made. I have surely made many mistakes and, through trials and error, and constant learning, I have refined my health decisions. If I only knew years ago what I know now, how different things would be!

People in Biblical times probably exercised greatly on a regular basis compared to many of us today. They probably walked more—perhaps a mile a day or several miles a day. They ate more natural grains, fruits, and vegetables. They learned to eat more healthily before the refining process was invented.

All of this must have contributed to a more robust health than we do in our day. We refer to the last century or two, especially in America. But we understand that the SAD (Standard American Diet) is spreading to other nations as well. As we learn from the apostle Paul, even “bodily discipline” has some benefit (1 Timothy 4:8) and that even the unbeliever (who is in the know) “nourishes and cherishes” his or her body (Ephesians 5:29). Proverbs says much about the wisdom of living in a disciplined manner.

In light of all that we have discussed, we ask, “How do you treat your body?”

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