Soup Sandwich

Many people believe that we came from primordial soup, which evolved into a complex being comprising body, mind and spirit. While I believe we were designed and created by our loving, all-powerful Father in Heaven, I acknowledge that there is a crucial point of connection and similarity between the two. That is that we are one being. We are not a created or evolved mind and a body and a soul. We are fully interconnected and interdependent creatures the came into being together.

Within the multiple and complex systems that run the beings that we are, a troubled mind affects the workings of the body, emotions impact our health, physical injury impacts our mental health and so forth. Science is at a point where we can prove this. [Read The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk for more on that.]

However, even anecdotally we can see this at play. How many of us have found that we are in a stressful time, whether it is fear of job loss, money troubles, relationship problems, or whatever other things might stress us out, find that we also seem to catch everything that goes around?

Now, please hear me out, I am not saying that the opposite is true – that if you live a life of love and hope and gratitude you will never get sick. All I am saying is that we can see the link if we pay attention.

I am passionate about my health, eating healthy foods with as much of it being organic as I can afford or can get my hands on. I exercise regularly. My biggest weakness (as I have mentioned before) is taking the down time that I need. That includes the fact that I often do not get the 7 or more hours of sleep I should each night. Also, given free time, I will not likely choose to sit and rest. I struggle even though I know that modern science supports the need for rest and I can see how consistent rest helps me.

In addition to resting our bodies, our minds and hearts need rest. We need to unplug as much as possible from news, or shows, or people that stress our minds. And from our jobs duties.

Just like the body needs recovery time after a marathon, our minds need recovery time after a mentally or emotionally stressful time. Meditation time, sitting in nature and listening to the melody of local birds or the rhythm of waves breaking on the shore, reading uplifting things, and listening to music are just some options that help us disconnect.

I invite us all to consider this Psalm written by Solomon: Psalm 127:2 [NLT]  It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Whether or not you believe we are commanded by God to rest one day a week, please consider that our whole being demands it. Either you believe it is a loving gift from our Father in Heaven, or you see that science supports it, or both.

Life can be a “soup sandwich” sometimes, often through no fault of our own. Political or governmental upheaval. Money wows. Relationship issues… Who hasn’t been impacted by one or more of these in our lives?

Even though life might currently be a “soup sandwich”, not working on any level. But getting the proper rest can help us to not become one too. Please nurture your whole beings, sweet sisters. And I will try to do the same.

Feel free to call me out about it, if you notice I’m not honoring my wish to actually take some down time.

I welcome your comments and questions. I’d like to hear how you schedule downtime and what helps your being become restored and rested. You can write me in the comment section, or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org