Soul | Why are we thankful?

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Today, my family gathered together to enjoy the bountiful meal my mother had prepared for us. It’s Thanksgiving, and there’s no better time to be with the ones you love, eating lots of really good food. But, sometimes in the midst of all the cooking and activity of preparing for this holiday, I find myself forgetting what exactly we are celebrating. Oh, of course I know it’s a reminder to be thankful for the good things in our life, but what’s the deeper reason behind our thankfulness?

Looking back, the first Thanksgiving was held by the Pilgrims as an expression of gratitude for God’s faithful provision of food and shelter. They had endured a harsh struggle, and were now blessed with a plentiful harvest. President Lincoln would ensure that we kept this tradition by proclaiming a yearly observance which forever marked it on our calendars. When you think about it, the year 1863 – in the middle of the Civil War – seems like a surprising time for our nation to pause and give thanks. The cruel presence of war had touched every household…but the hope of our nation was to restore unity. By offering thanks for what we’d been given, our nation was reminded of how truly blessed it was.

So this is the conclusion I’ve come to. It’s pretty incredible to consider being grateful when you’re in the middle of hardship. But, that is exactly how this holiday started. More than just turkey and stuffing, or small blessings we’ve been counting, it’s a profound reminder of how the Lord has provided a means to sustain us in the midst of our need. No matter how life looks at the moment, on this day we can pause and give thanks, knowing that God in His goodness is caring for us. That is why we can give thanks at all times, in every circumstance we find ourselves facing.

As I gather around the table with the four people I love most in this world, I want to be reminded of the Lord’s provision in my life. When I need Him most, He is always faithful to sustain me. And for this, I am truly thankful.

. . . . . . . .

I hope you all enjoyed a very blessed Thanksgiving!

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good;
His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

(Psalm 100:4-5)

Body | Catching up on Zzzz's...

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Lately, I’ve been finding myself daydreaming about how beautiful sleep is. My waking thoughts are filled with visions of my head sinking down onto the pillow, being wrapped up in warm blankets, and the softness of steady, slow, breathing…

All this makes me wonder, why is it that I put off going to bed, when even the mere idea of sleep is so inviting?

Throughout the day, I will often think about how tired I am, only to find that when night rolls around I continue to procrastinate about turning off the lights. True, my life can get pretty busy. Being enrolled in college has introduced me to both late-night study sessions, and hanging out with friends until the wee hours. Of course, I wake up in the morning and feel the effects of my choice to stay up past 12:00am, but wasn’t it worth it? After all, think of all the things I’d be missing out on! It seems to me, we’ve bought into the phrase, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man who doesn’t socialize.” (and yes, I did just make that up…)

The truth is my reasons for staying up late tend to revolve around the fact that I don’t accomplish the things I want to during the daylight hours. Here’s how a typical day goes:

• Wake up later than I wanted to; scramble to get ready for the day.
• Make half-hearted attempts at being productive, until I eventually crash during the afternoon
• Realize I really should have gotten something done, and then using my second, smaller-burst of energy, try to make the most of the few hours left in the day.
• Finally, close my eyes to catch a few hours of slumber, before I have to begin again tomorrow…

See a pattern forming here?

My disappointment in how the day went only serves to perpetuate my late night habits. The result is that I wake up almost more tired than the day before, and I allow myself to daydream away the time I have. 

Sleep isn’t just to give our bodies a break, or interrupt our busy schedules. It’s a time for our minds to renew and process the events of the day. It allows our bodies to heal, rejuvenate, ward off illness by boosting our immune system, and increase our energy for what’s up ahead.

A time of rest helps to shift things back in perspective. It’s amazing how much clarity is gained when we sleep on our worries, rather than allow them to consume us. There’s a lot to be said for ending a day, and starting fresh in the morning. Your outlook improves, and that feeling of disappointment and discouragement is no longer the first thing on your mind.  

My friends who have been telling me to get some sleep (see, I was listening…sort of) will be pleased to know that I am now going to purpose to go to bed by 10:30pm and wake up at 6:00am. This will give me about 7 ½ hrs. sleep every night, and plenty of time to get things done during the day. Just like I thought in my daydreams, sleep is a beautiful thing. The only thing that might possibly be better will be waking up from my rest filled with life, energy, and anticipation for the day ahead.

 “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for He gives to His beloved sleep.”

(Psalm 127:2)

The Four Aspects

If we’re going to be talking about wholeness, then it’s important for us to understand the four aspects of our lives – Mind, Body, Soul, & Spirit. These four aspects have a strong impact on one another. Though they exist separately, they are woven together so that the health of one aspect affects the health of all the others. This means that we are meant to live in a way that balances and combines our entire well-being.   

I think that often times, however, we tend to focus on one area. We address the part that seems the most manageable – the part we think we can easily fix and keep under control. Then whether out of fear or other insecurities, we sweep the overwhelming areas of our lives under the rug, hoping that eventually they will work themselves out.

Yet, there is danger in overemphasizing one area above all the rest. By ignoring problems, they will eventually begin to spill over. Instead of gaining control, we lost it; and find ourselves with failed attempts at achieving good health.  

Rather than take this one-track, compartmentalized approach, we should be focusing on the whole person. Wholeness is not a destination, or a bullet point to check off on your to-do list. It’s a way of life that is full and satisfying, because it addresses every area of who we are...

MIND | Your mind is an incredible gift. From it you reason, establish decisions, originate thoughts, and form your opinions. In the midst of all your thought processes, it continues to remind your body of how it should function moment-by-moment. Not only is it a place of knowledge and intellect, but it also stores memories, sparks creativity, and cultivates your imagination.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

BODY | Maintaining the health of our bodies is about more than just our outward appearance or physical fitness. It impacts our ability to think clearly and handle our emotions. Simple common-sense principles that we’re all familiar with (like good nutrition, strength training, and getting enough sleep), can make a significant difference in our overall wellness.

 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. “ (Romans 12:1)

SOUL | Your soul is the core of your being. It is the deep part of you that stores your greatest longings. Immortal, and engraved with the Image of God (Genesis 1:26), it is our soul that calls out to Him and recognizes we were made for more than this.

“My soul thirsts for God…” (Psalm 42:2)

SPIRIT | A spirit may be described as “lively and vivacious,” or it may be known as “quiet and thoughtful.” I think most of us are found to be a surprising and pleasant mixture of qualities, but however you would describe it, your spirit is the aspect that sets you apart as a unique individual. It is your personality, the part of you that desires to interact with other people as you grow and share life together. We are meant to be involved in our community, to befriend one another and help each other through trials and joys. Just as the soul calls for our Savior, the spirit cries out for the warmth of companions.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

As we grow and strengthen each of these four aspects, we can be more certain on our path towards a full and satisfying wholeness.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your strength and with all your mind’;

and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
(Luke 10:27)

An Introduction

This blog is about life.

To be more specific, it’s about striving towards a life filled with a vivid and robust sense of wholeness. What is wholeness? It’s the health and well-being of your whole person. It’s finding healing for our brokenness. It’s a return to balance, peace, and contentment. It’s the kind of life that truly satisfies.

Why write about wholeness?

A few Christmases ago, my brother gave me a book called "Wholly Jesus" by Mark Foreman. Foreman is a pastor from Southern California, and also the father of Jon and Tim Foreman who are members of the band Switchfoot.

Being avid Switchfoot fans, my brother and I both poured over the book from cover-to-cover. Not only was it a thoroughly enjoyable read, it also had a profound impact on me. It opened my eyes to the importance of being a whole person. Rather than focusing on one aspect, equal emphasis should be placed on each area of life – mind, body, soul, spirit.

Foreman’s book (which I’m sure you’ll hear more about in the future) got me thinking, and  it has ultimately lead to the start of this blog. It's possible the thoughts I share won't be profound. I know I don't have all the answers – mostly I’m still pondering my own questions. Maybe I'm just a girl with time on her hands and a lot on her mind. But, it's my prayer that this collection of practical advice, mixed with thoughtful musings, will inspire you to live life to its fullest. Not simply to get by each day, but to truly thrive.