Wash Yo' Face!

A dear friend of mine had a magnet beside her bathroom sink. It read, "Every time you wash your face, remember your baptism. Martin Luther" I always found an incredible amount of joy when I read this. No matter what had happened earlier in the day or even the night before, there was some sense of a new life.


Now, when I have had a particularly challenging day. I always think of washing my face.  I think about that fresh feeling of being purified.  On days when my food choices are a disaster or I feel like I have fallen short, it helps me to simply wash my face. I listened to a song growing up and even had it played at our wedding that emphasizes my thoughts on baptism. One of my favorites lines says, "I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold." I rejoice too, every time I wash my face to remember my baptism and to see my life unfold. The purity of water and the basic gesture of washing your face can make a big difference in cleaning the slate for the day.  Next time you are struggling, pause.  Take a moment to remember your baptism and wash your face. Start over again.


I haven't posted in almost a year, so the timing of a post dedicated to baptism and new life seems fitting. I am up, but not close to 300...thank you God.  I still love my career.  I am facing challenges with back pain and am looking at surgical options.  I know that no matter what happens, I need to honor my body enough to prioritize my health. So, here I am...remembering my baptism as I wash my face.

The Oldest Dilemna

Oh Eve.  If only you were available for an interview on Dateline or 20/20.  If only you were available to talk to women (and men) across the world who battle self control and doubt.  I imagine you would have an interesting perspective on the world today.  Alas, Eve is not available for a press conference.  We can however think about the third chapter of Genesis where Eve eats the apple.

I find it almost ironic that after consuming the sweet treat she suddenly becomes conscious and even consciousness of her nude body.  Our bodies are beautifully and intelligently designed, why are we so concerned about what they look like?  I’m a big proponent that the media has fueled a battle over what our bodies should look like verse what the average body actually looks like.  In this case though, the fire was fanned by Satan.

We begin to see a trend of Satan fueling our vices.  Whether those vices are food or alcohol, they can distract us from focusing on the fact we are made in the likeness of Christ.  Whether it is an apple or a giant slab of rich chocolate cake, it comes down to the same common theme: obedience.  How are our daily decisions fueling the fire of our vices? How are our daily decisions glorifying Christ?  One of the very best ways we can share our love for the Lord is through modeling behavior that glorifies his name.  How can your eating decisions better glorify God?

More than enough choices

In the last post I focused on being made in the Lord’s likeness from the first chapter of the Bible in Genesis.  This post is picking up right where that post left off. In fact, we left off on Genesis 1:26.  Today, I’m picking up at Genesis 1:27-30.  These verses point out that we have dominion over the cattle, fish, plants, and all the earth. 

So, we have dominion over plants and animals, what does this mean?  Simply stated, we have choices to make.  We are not left with dominion over just the fish; otherwise it would be sashimi (raw fish) for dinner, every single night. Instead, we have a plethora of choices.  We have endless options and combinations.  Just as important, if not more important, than the decision of what to eat, might be the decision of what not to eat. 

I feel bad for the people who had to discover that eating a blow fish could be fatal if not prepared correctly when they had feasted on plenty of other fish that nourished their bodies.  I also wish I could see the wonder and delight the first time someone tasted a fresh, ripe, ruby red strawberry.  We have the honor and the privilege to delight in treats like fresh fruit.  We also have a responsibility to avoid foods that could be harmful to our bodies. 

What foods are harmful to our bodies? I suppose that depends on who you ask.  Some might say red meat. Some might say foods with fat. Some might say artificially flavored foods.  The list is endless. It might be easier and more conducive to consider what foods do we delight in that fortify our bodies? What foods give us strength and energy to carry out the Lord’s work and provide for our neighbor?  These are the foods that are life sustaining.

When enough is enough

When I think of the many reasons obtaining a healthy weight and lifestyle are important, there is one that stands out most prominently.  Perhaps this number one reason stands out so predominately because it comes from the first book of the Bible, Genesis.  You and I have at least one thing in common.  We are made in God’s likeness (New King James Version, Gen. 1.26). Isn’t that incredible?  A few years ago I remember seeing a program that you could upload your photo to and it would tell you which celebrity you most looked like.  I’m sure that it did not suggest Jesus unless you had dark, long hair and a white robe.  I find it quite incredible that even if we all look different; we are all made in the Lord’s likeness. 

When I ponder how I can best exude the likeness I share with the Lord, the first thought that comes to my mind does not involve double chins.  It also doesn’t include being so thin my bones are countable through my skin.  Rather, when I think of the likeness, I think of health.  I think of working hard to provide sustenance, but not over abundance.  I think of having just “enough”.  This thought of having enough was originally brought to my attention by another Christian woman.  We worked in the same office and were discussing lifestyle changes around the water cooler.  I told her what program I was working on. She shared with me that her prayers had been simply for “enough”.  I inquired further.

She began to explain how she didn’t want to be starving, but she also didn’t want too much.  She was focusing on eating portions that sustained her, but nothing more.  She would eat until she was satisfied, not so full she hurt.  She would eat when she was hungry, but only dish up a small portion.  After all, she could find more to eat if she was still hungry.  Her concept was great for her own health and wellness, but it was also beneficial for being a good steward.  She could limit her impact on the environment and the economy.  Naturally, this lifestyle change spilled over in to every part of her life.  The concept of having just “enough” eased her budget.  By spending less on luxuries, she had enough left for charitable giving.  By making major purchases that fit her needs, but were not larger or fancier, she had enough to retire at a comfortable age.

The concept of enough seems to fit right alongside the idea of being made in the Lord’s likeness.  It’s a discipline that has a tremendous impact on not only how we fill our plates and bodies, but how we live our Christian lives.

Divine Intervention

On Saturday evening I attended a Bible Study.  We were finishing a book study that led us to a discussion about the Lord speaking to us. As I drove home, I drove in silence.  I asked the Lord to speak to me, tell me something profound, offer me words of wisdom, and tell me what’s next.  I sat in silence.  There wasn’t a loud gong or a beautiful butterfly.  A song didn’t suddenly play on the radio with words to guide me in a specific direction. Instead, a thought popped into my mind.  That thought will transform this blog (and gives me heart palpitations). 

Naturally, I am semi-petrified that the thought was, “Blog about how your faith intertwines with your need to lose weight.”  I tried to submerge the thought, but it continues to resurface. Why would I try to submerge it and why am I semi-petrified? Blogging about your weight and quest for health is relatively safe.  Blogging about your faith opens you up to persecution.  Even using some of these words make me worry that I will come across as a total nut.  I was raised in a Christian home.  Even when my parents were separated or divorced, we went to church every Sunday.  I was baptized, had my first communion, was confirmed, married in a church, and occasionally attend church.  I’m not what I think of when I think of “those holy roller” types who would write a blog about faith and weight.

I am just an average, female, middle class, American with an obesity issue.  I happen to be Christian.  I’m usually careful who I share this detail with.  I would prefer people ask me questions about my faith, rather than pass judgment on how I think or what I believe.  To clear a few things up, I believe in one God.  I believe in treating everyone with respect and loving they neighbor.  You, my neighbor, may be Buddhist and prefer to date women or men or both. I still love you.  You, my neighbor, may be atheist and vegan.  I still love you. You, my neighbor, may be any number of scenarios and I will choose to love you.  Not only do I believe in respect, but I also don’t think your faith has to look exactly like mine…or even remotely close to mine.  Some of the most spiritual people I know, don’t step foot inside a church.  Some of the most difficult, hypocritical, and any other negative adjective to describe people I know, go to church every Sunday without fail.  Attending to an organized religious event does not somehow determine what is in your heart.  Hopefully, you are either convinced that I am not a “crazy, holy roller” which helps you to decide this is a blog worth reading or you are now so offended that you stop here.  Either way, that’s okay.

If you have decided to keep reading, welcome.  Welcome, to this new journey I am embarking on. I have no idea what is going to come, but trust that just like I was led to revolutionize my blog, I trust that the words I need to express will naturally come forward.

That embarrasing moment when...

It takes quite a bit to embarrass me.  Growing up my dad took great joy in making sure we had "character".  He would do things that he thought were hilarious, like turning up the music really loud the block before dropping us off at middle school. This was in the late 90's. He was not jamming out to Hansen or Spice Girls. He was jamming out to BTO or the Beach Boys.  In retrospect, still great music, but it didn't exactly help my sister and I gain popularity points. All this to say, I am way past being embarrassed by situations that would probably embarrass other people.
This has probably hindered my urgency for weight loss at different points. I'm not embarrassed by my weight. In fact, even at my heaviest, I never have been. I am who I am.  That is until someone shared a recent "memory" of me.
I was talking about how lately I have really struggled with my eating choices. Yes. Me. This blogger who wants to be encouraging and only share sunshine and happiness, gets discouraged.  I know I'm not going to quit. I'm in this for the long haul. My mantra recently has been, "A river cuts through rock not by power, but perseverance." Yes, if I just persevere, I will get there. It may be slower than I would like, but it will happen.  Despite having a good attitude about that piece of it, I still have days in a row where I make less than optimal decisions.  I do get frustrated when I feel myself slipping into complacency. Anyway, I knew I needed a pep talk and shared with a couple people where my head was at. 
After sharing with one person, she decided to tell me her first impression of me. Brace yourself. I wish I would have! She said that when she first saw me, it was from behind. I was sitting in a plastic backed black chair.  My back fat spilled over the back of the chair, swallowing it like a whale swallowing a school of fish. Now, my back fat only barely bumps out from the same chair.
Bleck. My stomach did a flip...somewhere between that feeling when you want to vomit and a sinking weight of impending doom.
For the first time in my life I was/am embarrassed by my weight. She of course shared this with me to encourage me. It was a moment of, "look how far you have come! Keep going!"  Still, it stung.  I am most conscious of my back and back fat. If it really were possible to target fat loss, I would start there. Alas it's not. So, onward I march. Onward toward my goal.
P.S. I'm doing great again, feeling motivated, and on my way to success!

Why?

I have been working through a weight loss workbook. One of the questions posed was, "Why did you start?" I have thought about it for a full 24 hours and still don't have an exact answer.  I remember my first attempt at weight loss was when I was six. I remember another attempt at eight. I am guessing those attempts were to be more like my little friends. In high school I made another attempt. That one was probably again more for vanity and to avoid being teased at school.  I didn't seriously attempt weight loss again until a few months before our wedding.  Even then, I only vaguely remember thinking that all brides try to lose weight before their wedding. It was as common as getting a tan, having your hair done, etc.  So, I lost 20 pounds. 
Somewhere during that initial phase of losing 20 pounds, my husband's grandfather was on his death bed. He had lost his wife a few years earlier and thought (rightly so) that many of her health issues were weight related.  I promised him days before he died that I would do everything I could to improve my health and my husband's.  Grandpa didn't want our hearts to feel the heartbreak his had. The promise I made him has been a factor that has fit into the equation ever since.
I thinking the "why" behind my weight loss is just as much about that questionn as it is about the "why not". I don't really see any negative impact from losing weight.  I guess the worst part has been having to buy new clothes. You have to buy new clothes periodically anyway though, so it might as well be a smaller size. I don't notice an impact on our grocery bill.  The cost to eat healthy has cost about the same as what it cost us to eat junk food.  I would like to mention that I think weight loss is like an insurance policy of sorts.  I am making an investment now, that in the future will reap many benefits. For example, I pay a monthly fee for my weight loss program.  Someone asked me if I minded spending as much as I do. No, of course I don't. Even if it costs me $1 a day, that would be roughly $365. A single trip to the doctor for an obesity related illness is going to cost more than that. Surgery? Yeah, that will cost triple (with good insurance). 
So I guess the answer to my why is another question, "Why not?"