Healthy Bodies, Beautiful Hearts
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
1 Peter 3:3-4
Whether you’re a freshman, or in your Senior year in college, how well are we caring for yourself? Not just for the needs of our outer looks, but for the hidden and the unseen domain of the body, mind and spirit.
Friend, a Lot of us are so committed and exceptionally talented in the creative art of beautifying the outer appearance of our looks, skin, and hair. We often reach out to one of the many tools at our disposal; anti – aging creams, a vast array of dermatological make up products, fashionable clothes, manicures, pedicures, perfumes or colognes. Our lives are engulfed in products generated by multi-billion dollar industries that promise us happiness, success and better lives if we just try them.
But as you and I know, our outer bodies can look and smell great, something good and admirable, even as our kidneys are failing, coronary arteries are hardening, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is destroying our lungs, and depression is dimming the lights in our hearts and minds. Looking good physically or great financially doesn’t mean feeling good in the depth of one’s mind and soul, or being healthy.
It’s a no- brainer but great wealth and the best of looks won’t and can’t buy us health, a better life, or the happiness that Hollywood, and our world’s mega billion dollars industries promise us.
Nothing, no wealth or physical beauty can ever fill the depth and vast emptiness of my soul and yours.
But yet, like children who crave and lay claim to every toy, cookie, and new Disney movie in their visual field, we too as adults seem to be in a perpetual search for happiness and fulfillment in the next electronic gadget, relationship, human approval, success, pleasurable habits and behaviors, and in wealth. And sooner or later, children and adults alike, we all get tired and bored of the very things that once captivated our imagination, fed our egos and senses, and brought us short-lived happiness.
And so going back to that example of the car that looks great on the outside but can’t be driven because of a neglected and failing engine under its hood, one begins to wonder about our human folly. What a folly to toil and labor in preserving our external look and outer appearance but neglect and fail to care for the vital engine under our physical hoods; our body beyond skin and hair, mind, and spirit.
How foolish of us to think that we can live a great and fulfilling life by looking good, satisfying every sensory desire, and basking in the approval and accolades of the world around us, while ignoring our body’s health needs, and our heart and soul’s deep thirst and hunger for love, hope, faith, eternal value, forgiveness, and redemption.
Just like a car with a well maintained engine, you and I can excel and run the race of life with great energy, zeal, and strength when our body, the seen and unseen parts, mind and spirit (our human heart) are rested, filled, and fulfilled. With God’s help of inner restoration, and irrespective of our looks, outer appearances or the type of Eau De Cologne worn, we can all do great things. You and I can be light and salt in our homes, schools, colleges, work, and in the dark and flavorless world that surrounds us.
And friend, choosing to nurture and care for ourselves; body, mind, and spirit is that elusive apple a day that keeps the doctor away.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3
Join me in the next series of blog postings as we venture into a journey of inner healing beyond our outer appearance into the deep realm of our soul, mind, and spirit.
Advice and recommendations offered here are not meant to replace your medical provider’s individual evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. Please see your medical provider for any physical or emotional concerns.
Views expressed here are only of the author, and do not represent the views of any other organization or entity.
Adel G. Hanna, M.D,
Author: Soldier To Soldier Heart to Heart
A Doctor’s Stories from a Military Camp
Blog: www.adelhanna.com
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