We all deal with aging bodies. Each and every day our bodies grow older. That’s a good thing when we are young, a tolerable thing when we are in our 20s and 30s, and, let’s face it, a much harder pill to swallow from the 40s onward.
I used to be a competitive swimmer, and I completely took my good health for granted in those days. I even abused my good health by not properly nourishing my body and subjecting it to crazy, even harmful, exercise regimens. Like most people, I wish I had that body back now so I could appreciate it. Don’t get me wrong—I’m very blessed to have good health, and it feels shallow to wish for a body and physical abilities I used to have when so many out there are dealing with real health crises. But, hey, I’m shallow. We all are, to some degree.
I recently returned to the pool, and one of the first things I said was, “someone moved the backstroke flags!” For you non-swimmers, those are the thin, ribbon-like flags that hang across each end of the pool, about 10 feet from the wall (the same things you see hanging at used car dealerships!) They're for people swimming backstroke, so they can count their strokes to the wall and know when to turn. Anyway, I became convinced they had been moved further from the wall by the Swimming Powers that Be, some secret rule change made by the Olympic Committee when I wasn’t paying attention.
No so. It took me a few weeks to realize that I was swimming slower and taking more strokes into the wall, because I was, well, not 20 anymore. The flags hadn’t changed. I had. That really depressed me. I was slower, more out of shape (and, need I say, in a much larger swimsuit) than the old days. I was aging. Gulp.
Why do we fret over these things? Christ tells us not to.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Mt 6:25-27.
When I taught 5th grade students at church, I always used this passage, having the kids make door hangers with these verses imprinted on them (one side said “Keep Out!” and the other had the passage on it). But this Scripture passage is relevant for the 5th grader and the 40 year old alike. Why do we worry over these changes in life, these “as sure as I’m standin’ here” changes that are going to happen to us, no matter how we live our lives? And it is not just that we are shallow (although that's part of it, for me)--it's that we worry. We worry about being older. It means we are closer to . . . you know. The word we don't like to say. Our time here is limited, and we don't like reminders of the fleeting nature of that time.
But we need to remember the fleeting nature of the time we have, so we use it as we are supposed to, as God wants us to. These reminders are good for us, even if they don't feel good.
The next time I take 6 strokes into the wall while swimming backstroke, instead of the old 4, I hope I remember to ask myself, “Can you add a single moment to your life-span by worrying?” More importantly, I pray I remember the answer Christ gives us.
I used to be a competitive swimmer, and I completely took my good health for granted in those days. I even abused my good health by not properly nourishing my body and subjecting it to crazy, even harmful, exercise regimens. Like most people, I wish I had that body back now so I could appreciate it. Don’t get me wrong—I’m very blessed to have good health, and it feels shallow to wish for a body and physical abilities I used to have when so many out there are dealing with real health crises. But, hey, I’m shallow. We all are, to some degree.
I recently returned to the pool, and one of the first things I said was, “someone moved the backstroke flags!” For you non-swimmers, those are the thin, ribbon-like flags that hang across each end of the pool, about 10 feet from the wall (the same things you see hanging at used car dealerships!) They're for people swimming backstroke, so they can count their strokes to the wall and know when to turn. Anyway, I became convinced they had been moved further from the wall by the Swimming Powers that Be, some secret rule change made by the Olympic Committee when I wasn’t paying attention.
No so. It took me a few weeks to realize that I was swimming slower and taking more strokes into the wall, because I was, well, not 20 anymore. The flags hadn’t changed. I had. That really depressed me. I was slower, more out of shape (and, need I say, in a much larger swimsuit) than the old days. I was aging. Gulp.
Why do we fret over these things? Christ tells us not to.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Mt 6:25-27.
When I taught 5th grade students at church, I always used this passage, having the kids make door hangers with these verses imprinted on them (one side said “Keep Out!” and the other had the passage on it). But this Scripture passage is relevant for the 5th grader and the 40 year old alike. Why do we worry over these changes in life, these “as sure as I’m standin’ here” changes that are going to happen to us, no matter how we live our lives? And it is not just that we are shallow (although that's part of it, for me)--it's that we worry. We worry about being older. It means we are closer to . . . you know. The word we don't like to say. Our time here is limited, and we don't like reminders of the fleeting nature of that time.
But we need to remember the fleeting nature of the time we have, so we use it as we are supposed to, as God wants us to. These reminders are good for us, even if they don't feel good.
The next time I take 6 strokes into the wall while swimming backstroke, instead of the old 4, I hope I remember to ask myself, “Can you add a single moment to your life-span by worrying?” More importantly, I pray I remember the answer Christ gives us.
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