Faith communities have a deep concern for souls but Psalms 139 affirms that we were created with an earthly body (He formed my inward parts) and that we must care for our bodies as well. Genesis 2 also enlightens us on how important our bodies are because God Himself, breathed into us the breath of life.

Our bodies are the foundation of who we are. Body and soul together form a single fabric of who we are in the image of God. Often in faith communities we have drawn a clear but false distinction between body and soul and assigned to the congregations the ministry of the souls and to healthcare, the body. Faith communities must see the enormous value of caring for the soul and the body. A congregation that embraces ministry to the whole person will cultivate not only personal faith but a strong sense of community.

It is the body that allows us to engage in meaningful work and relationships throughout our lives. Knowing and believing that every person is individually created in God’s image is the beginning of realizing how sacred our bodies are. God gave us the freedom and ability to make life choices. Health status and well-being are varied as we individually make life choices.

Work life balance is vital to health fullness. Ones vocation or job can determine the status of health. In our vocation we work to contribute to others a better and healthier world and in our jobs we receive pay to support our family and put food on the table. Work and rest must be honored in our lives if we are to be healthy. If we choose a life that neglects rest we will destroy our spirits as well as our bodies.

Along life’s journey we are born, grow up, grow old, our bodies change, and sometimes become frail. Our lives have beginnings, middles, and ends. Faith communities that offer ministries of health and wellness understand that this often consists of walking through hard times with those who suffer with all sorts of life issues. This may include reducing isolation and promoting belonging. It may mean reaching out to the homeless, suffering, abused, and the high need community. The more the community come to know and trust one another the more beloved and healthier the community becomes.

Identifying the needs of our communities is the first step in building a ministry of health and wholeness. It is a start to help us celebrate our goodness in all of its dimensions to help to raise hope for healing and health through our faith communities.

What would this look like if we had no need among us? Can you imagine? Presently there are places of great need such as our border with the immigrants entering by the thousands, inner city with poverty and loneliness, and those with mental health issues.

Human suffering is all around for a lot of reasons. Many of us sit in our safe and privileged world and occasionally feel bad for those in need but what are we doing to help the situation? What can we do? Maybe we need to learn why they are in need.

We need to do our part. We can only do our part. Can we elect leaders who care for human dignity? Are there any that have human dignity?No one knows the heart of man except God almighty. It’s hard to believe our countries’ leaders because basically politics now is a race to run down the other side. It is a fight for power. It seems no one really cares for those in need. It seems to be that politicians say whatever it takes to keep their job. Life is sacred and must be protected. The question is how? What can we do? We can only do our part. Worry, anguish, and monkey mind are of no value. What is of value is staying in the word day by day, sincere daily prayer with all your heart for guidance and strength, and most of all trust in God to show you what you can do in your small space. Do your best to have no need among you in your small space.

One of my least favorite things in life is to say good bye. I’m not sure why I’m like this but I cried as a child when I left my aunts house after a weeks visit, cried often leaving my parents to return to college, and even now cry sometimes when my Grandchildren leave. Let me say that I do not like being this way and have never figured out why. However, I have always felt that my emotional scale is off the intensity chart good or bad. When I am happy, I am elated and my heart sings. But on the down side, when I’m sad or hurt, I feel as if my heart might break in a million pieces.

Today I’m observing a lot of goodbyes around me. It’s a season when parents are sending children to college, young adults getting married, and a time when death is upon us. My own Mother is nearing the end of her life.

Loosing a parent brings many emotions. When they are elderly you have a chance to see the transition through the years and somewhat prepare. It’s never easy losing a loved one.

Dealing with the eminent passing of my Mother has caused me to experience many emotions. I am sad that I will be an orphan in this world, that I won’t be able to hear her sweet voice telling me she loves me, and sad that in just a few passing years I will be her age and my daughter and Grandchildren will have to go through this pain.

So glad that this life is not all there is. Grateful that I have an eternal Father in heaven waiting to greet me with open arms. He may not say, “well done my good and faithful servant”, but I know He will say, “come in, welcome! You loved hard and always came back to me when you fell. Enter the gates with praise, you saved sinner!!! Come see the sights of glory!”

I find my reactions both interesting and a little frightening watching many of the friends my age retire. I am planning my own retirement within the next 3 years but somehow seeing pictures and Facebook posts of them actually retiring has brought on some unexpected feelings. I find myself experiencing feelings of jealousy, regret, happiness for them, and thoughts of what I will do when I retire.

My best friend Karen retired a couple of years ago and I was a little sad because I always felt comfort knowing where she was daily. I guess I felt I would lose touch with her but I haven’t. Then my best friend at work retired. That was tough and I was very emotional. I couldn’t even talk to her at her party because I didn’t want to cry in front of the crowd.

I actually hate crying in front of others but of course no one likes to, right? I have pondered this and the biggest reason is that i hate being so emotional. I also look awful while and after crying. I have in the past been known to become a blubbering idiot at surprise going away parties for me and I find it very embarrassing. I long to simply hug people at their going away functions and look them in the eye and say, “it has been a joy working with you. I wish you the best”. But, no, I crater.

Maybe it’s because I am too emotional. I have always thought that when I am happy, I feel happier than others and when I am sad, I feel sadness more than most. I wish I was comfortable with all that but I’m not.

One thing is for sure. When I retire I do not want a going away party! I just want to walk away and have dinner with my family.

I’ll see what retirement has for me. I’ll start thinking about it more. I know this. Even after retirement I’ll keep helping people and trying to make the world a better place.

I saw a man last week who I’ve known for most of my life. He is a local legend as a football coach. I had not seen him in years. I first recognized his wife walking beside him and as my eyes shifted to him I was in disbelief. This former tower of a man was now slowly walking with a cane and had become an old man. His face was recognizable but had aged. I could see that walking was not comfortable.

We all age or we die. That is reality but my question is, why am I so surprised and saddened when I see an acquaintance that has now aged?

Maybe I don’t want to face the reality of my own aging or that I don’t want to lose youth. Maybe it is because I don’t want my own life to end or leave those I love. Or maybe it is because I can’t see myself growing old and feeble. Whatever the reason, I am surprised at my reaction to seeing a natural progression in life.

We are born, age, and die unless we pass unexpectedly. To have sad feelings about natural life stages is a wonder to me. It just happens. Suck it up buttercup!

I love Facebook memories. Here’s one I wrote about my sister Mary’s MS journey 4 years ago today. Sweet lessons and memories of His presence!

Most everyone reading this knows and loves my precious sister Mary. Her enemy is multiple sclerosis. However, she has such a Christ like attitude that I’m not even sure if she considers MS an enemy. I’ve often wondered why someone so precious was allowed to have this horrible disease. Why not a mean and cruel person? Our pea brains should never try to second guess God! He’s got this!!!

She’s declining daily and we know she will not be with us long term. I’ve often wondered Gods’ purpose for her still being with us in her current and challenging condition of digression. Well, I’m not in charge, thank goodness!

Many believe, as I do, that “to be absent from the body . . . [is] to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). But I struggle to accept the suffering my precious sister must endure before she leaves this world. Why must she suffer so much now? If God isn’t going to heal her, why won’t he just take her home to her reward?

Well, Mary Carlene is a conqueror. Conquerors are satisfied to know that God loves them. Pain and death may destroy their bodies, but they know their souls will live forever because of God’s love. With that knowledge, these conquerors can live with unanswered questions. They don’t confine God to a box of neatly packaged answers. They are able to depend on God without demanding explanations from him. Pain and death have not destroyed them. Mary’s love for Jesus, and her faith in God’s love for her keeps her faithful to him. And I know she will remain faithful until she is with God and the other Angels in heaven.

I find life so interesting. There is no exact rule how you do it but most follow a similar path. The final outcome is the same for all. It ends.

People tackle the path in various ways. Most get so excited at the birth of a child, spend extravagant amounts on toddlers birthday parties and five year old graduations from Kindergarten, have limousine service and spend extravagantly for prom.

The next big events in life are more dependent on the career choices but usually a trade or college is in the future. Ones satisfaction with work can certainly impact quality of life.

Then there’s marriage. Now I know today in the U.S., only 55% of Americans are married, compared to 72% in 1960, but that’s still the norm. Marriage is a trip in itself. You marry this person having no idea how they will turn out, start down the path, live life, and if you are blessed, wake up next to your, old, best friend for a few great years.

Next up is Grand-parenting (greatest gift of all), retirement, maybe a few quality and carefree years, old age, and then you die.

Hopefully during that time one has found love, joy, peace, meaningful work, and eternal life. After all, most of us want to leave the world a better place and hope that our work on earth made a difference and helped others.

What happens is that we look up one day and our house is full of people, every holiday, that we helped to produce, we become slower, develop wrinkles, aches and pains, and find ourselves realizing that the life is short. Our time on earth is but a blink of the eye. And guess what? It’s ok. In fact, it’s life.

If it became the norm to discuss, view, and celebrate all phases of life as much as we do the beginning, it could change our entire perspective on living. My wish is that life, with its pain, sorrow, happiness, love and uncertainty could be accepted and even relished from beginning until end. Time on earth will happen and end. Heads up, out of the sand, and live with mindful anticipation of life as it unfolds.

I’m beginning to feel old for the first time in my life. Sort of never thought that would happen to me. In my mind I still think of myself as 30ish but my body is telling me different. It doesn’t help that I haven’t exercised in 3 months (have exercised all my life so this is weird) which always made me feel young. I now watch my husband walk through the house in the mornings a little more stooped and looking like he may have been tackled on his way from the bed to the kitchen for coffee (aches and pains). I still can’t believe I am sleeping with a 68 year old man (and I like it)!!

One thing I am enjoying about aging is that I am not beating myself up so much for not being perfect! I know, who’s perfect in this world except Jesus Christ but I have over the edge expectations of myself that as a sinner can no way deliver.

My BF informed me the other day that “growing old is a privilege”, and my mother-in-law used to say that “old age is not what it is cracked up to be”. Its also sobering to see my precious and Godly, Mother with Alzheimer’s as a very different person now. When she was in her prime her presence and house were smiled upon by all. She kept both her personal appearance and home immaculate. Now she is comfortable without her teeth, goes days wearing the same cloths, and gets angry because she does not want a shower when asked to by her caregivers.

So what’s ahead on this journey? God only knows. We will take it day by day. I will ask Him for guidance, forgiveness, knowledge, strength, and a grateful attitude along this path. I will ask Him to continue to help me be the person He’s created me to be. I will love and forgive myself more. I will just keep growing older and that ok because that’s life. Pretty or not!

In an effort to become more mindful I’ve realized I’m aging! (newsflash, duh) I always figured I would get older but never thought about how that would unfold. What I’m observing is not what I expected.

Recently my Grandson mentioned in a casual conversation that I was old. I whirled around and questioned him about his statement and if he really thought I was old (perceiving it as negative) and he said, “yes you are Dooda”. Of course I’m old to him. He’s 7 and I’m 62!

I guess the reason it’s such an issue right now is because I’m realizing my stamina is decreasing, I seem to need more rest, and I just want to stay home. I also see my husband, siblings, and friends retiring and slowing down. It’s reality but inside I feel 25. How can that be?

Watching myself aging has not been a fun thing. I’m used to turning a head or two occasionally and that’s not happening much anymore except an occasional senior citizen. It causes me to grieve a little because I’ve banked on that for a while, knowing better, because we all know our appearance is only a fraction of the human God created.

What I find interesting is although my enthusiasm is lacking about the outside changes, I am loving the growth of the inside. I love myself more, am more accepting of my downfalls, and see myself working toward living life more healthfully. I just flat like myself better!

My desire is to not be so driven. It’s ok to be driven but when you feel tense or have monkey mind constantly it’s not good. I recently asked a counselor who knows me well, why I’m so driven? She said, “I think you are seeking validation by over working in every area of your life”. Wow, that’s food for thought!!!!

Hmmmmm, what am I trying to prove here? Am I trying to make up for past hurts I caused my parents? That’s silly! Dad has been gone for many years and Moms mind is no longer hers. Am I trying to reach executive status? Been there, done that! Got the scars! That’s not it!

All I know for now is that I am working to find calmness in my life. The meditation, spiritual companion, and daily devotional are slowly but surely helping me become more mindful, practice more self care, and stopping to smell the roses of life.