The Miracle of Living (Well)

Wisdom is everywhere. From the immortal and optimistic words of Belinda Carlisle whilst jumping on my best friend’s trampoline at age 8,

 “In this world, we’re just beginnin’ to understand the miracle of livin’”… 

…to a dramatic statement in my audiobook on the ride in to work at age 43,

“Not taking care of ourselves is an act of wordless violence toward ourselves and others.”
(I hit the back button in my Libby app a couple of times so I could hear this line from Asako Yuzuki again.)

I jotted the latter down and sat with it for a few days. Then conversation after conversation after conversation with friends, students, and colleagues and a couple of articles or social posts I stumbled across helped me see that while a dramatic statement, it is not inaccurate, and it is a pervasive problem. So many live in a state of burnout; busy, exhausted, and chasing some never ending carrot of more or belonging or success or status. 

The Bible offers countless examples of why our mind, body, heart, and soul have value and need care-taking:

• Jesus often took time away from people for prayer and quiet. When we experience solitude and quiet, we are able to reflect. Our hearts may release some of the hard moments it has held on to. Our mind may wander to moments of gratitude and find peace amidst a busy day or week. Ideas previously held captive by our to-do lists and deadlines might connect in ways to help us find new solutions to problems or notice the beauty in the world around us. 

• Jesus prioritized time with other people and building community. All the way back to the very first creation stories, we have records of the Christian belief in community. We were created to help one another. We were made with love and to love. Prioritizing time with others allows us to gain a greater understanding of the human experience and stretch ourselves to learn new ways to be in the world. We can learn more about ourselves. 

• Paul reminds us that our body is a temple and the Psalms that we are wonderfully made. Can you hear your intuition speak? Do you notice when the Holy Spirit nudges? Is your body healthy enough to care for your family? Do you feel that you are using the gifts and strengths you were given to serve others? 

We were given our selves—our inner and physical beings—to worship, to connect, to serve, and be and revel in the world the Creator created. So, if we are neglecting our physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual health, perhaps it is an act of wordless violence against ourselves. Would you want your child to take care of their teenage and adult selves the way you take care of yourself? They’re watching. And when they watch, they learn. Education 101. 

The actions we choose to take or not take for ourselves contribute to our humanity present in the world. Are we acting with love toward ourselves? Are we taking care of one of God’s most precious beings or are we neglecting the beloved child of God that we are? 

But how? 

Start small. Prayer, meditation, a walk, reading, journaling, listening to music, sitting in the quiet… all of these and more can be done in little five minute moments. We are familiar with those precious seconds behind the closed door of a bathroom and that deep, beautiful, cleansing breath of silence before, “Mama?” or “Daaaada?” rings out once again. 

If you can find five minutes here or there, can you find ten? After you drop both kids at practice, can you take a few minutes in the quiet of your car before running to the grocery? The Good Trade has some cost-free ideas for ways to prioritize wellness, too. 

It has been my experience that as I make time for journaling, workouts, and walks, my mind is clearer, and I am better able to attend to the people in my life that mean the most. This clarity of mind allows me to see what’s taking up valuable time in my day that no longer serves me or my family and where I can build in critical time with them. And with this time, I also have more time for me, for hobbies I enjoy, people who make me better, and the subsequent improvement in my mood is a gift to others as well. 

In the immortal words of Belinda Carlisle, 

“Oooh, Heaven is a place on Earth. 
They say in Heaven, love comes first.
We’ll make Heaven a place on Earth.” 

Love for self. Love for others. Sounds heavenly.