Some of you may be wondering why I used the term "Spiritually Fat" as part of my blog title. As I explained in my original blog, it was inspired by verses in both Isaiah and 2 Nephi which talk about letting your soul "delight in fatness."
So what does that mean to me? To me it means doing all in my power to be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It means praying with all the energy I possess to be filled with the pure love of Christ, so much so that it exudes from me. I hope some day to have such and abundance of the spirit and love that wherever I go those around me can feel it. I don't mean that in an arrogant way. I want others to want to know Christ because they know me. I'm a long way from that right now (at least I feel I am). We've all been around people like that, though, and found ourselves thinking "I wish I could be like that."
A good friend of mine once shared a story that exemplifies what I'm trying to say. He was walking through the Los Angeles, CA airport -- LAX. As usual it was very crowded. As you might imagine he was shocked when as he walked through the airport he suddenly felt the Spirit of God so strongly that it almost overpowered him. He stopped dead in his tracks and started looking around him, trying to figure out what was going on. Then he looked over to his right and sitting there waiting for a flight was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Marvin J. Ashton.
Thats what I'm talking about. Oh that I can be that spiritually fat someday!
Showing posts with label spiritually fat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritually fat. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Motivation!
By Lynn Parsons
I was very excited when I found out Randy was starting this blog. I have many reasons to lose weight, including my health, how I feel, and my new daughter-in-law.
While my story is not as dramatic as Randy's, I still need to lose weight. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my joints don't appreciate the extra pressure. I can feel my blood pressure going up, and will need medication soon if I don't do anything. I am also concerned about developing diabetes, which runs in my family.
My main reason, though, is that I'm not comfortable in my skin. I was a slightly overweight child, often teased as the lone girl with three brothers. When I entered college, I had no transportation other than feet, and was too poor to eat much. I also discovered that if I walked fast, I could leave home 10 minutes later and still make class in plenty of time. Turns out, that was aerobic walking before its time, and I was so slim that my husband could wrap his hands around my waist. That hasn't been true in quire a while. I'm tired and irritable, and don't sleep well. This keeps my spiritually from growing at its usual rate. I've felt it, and have been praying for help and direction.
I met Melanie, now my daughter-in-law, last summer, when she and my son were dating. I next saw her about 3 weeks ago (we lived in different states), she had lost more than 40 pounds. She looks great! Melanie and John are temporarily staying with us, and she's teaching me delicious recipes that are very healthy. I had "macaroni and cheese" tonight that was very low calorie and had many healthy things in it.
So, time for a change. I hope blogging will also increase my motivation. I need to take action before I need a seatbelt extender on my next plane ride! I've already started by eating fruit for breakfast (two servings) and another piece of fruit for my midmorning snack. Next week I plan to add a large salad before dinner.
I'll keep you posted. Next big hurdle--an exercise plan.
I was very excited when I found out Randy was starting this blog. I have many reasons to lose weight, including my health, how I feel, and my new daughter-in-law.
While my story is not as dramatic as Randy's, I still need to lose weight. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my joints don't appreciate the extra pressure. I can feel my blood pressure going up, and will need medication soon if I don't do anything. I am also concerned about developing diabetes, which runs in my family.
My main reason, though, is that I'm not comfortable in my skin. I was a slightly overweight child, often teased as the lone girl with three brothers. When I entered college, I had no transportation other than feet, and was too poor to eat much. I also discovered that if I walked fast, I could leave home 10 minutes later and still make class in plenty of time. Turns out, that was aerobic walking before its time, and I was so slim that my husband could wrap his hands around my waist. That hasn't been true in quire a while. I'm tired and irritable, and don't sleep well. This keeps my spiritually from growing at its usual rate. I've felt it, and have been praying for help and direction.
I met Melanie, now my daughter-in-law, last summer, when she and my son were dating. I next saw her about 3 weeks ago (we lived in different states), she had lost more than 40 pounds. She looks great! Melanie and John are temporarily staying with us, and she's teaching me delicious recipes that are very healthy. I had "macaroni and cheese" tonight that was very low calorie and had many healthy things in it.
So, time for a change. I hope blogging will also increase my motivation. I need to take action before I need a seatbelt extender on my next plane ride! I've already started by eating fruit for breakfast (two servings) and another piece of fruit for my midmorning snack. Next week I plan to add a large salad before dinner.
I'll keep you posted. Next big hurdle--an exercise plan.
Friday, December 31, 2010
An Interesting Juxtaposition
The other day as I read 2 Nephi 9:51 in the Book of Mormon, I had a epiphany. The last line of the verse reads:
I've read that verse dozens of times, but this time it hit me differently. The question that popped into my mind was, "Have you noticed how the scriptures (i.e. the Word of Wisdom) teach us to be physically fit, and yet spiritually fat?" I had never considered that juxtaposition before. How many times to we read about the importance of our bodies? How many times to we read the word "feast" in relation to the word of God?
These thoughts were particularly poignant for me as I began to contemplate my own situation. Doctrine and Covenants 88:15 states "....the spirit and the body are the soul of man." In other words, the health of the body and the health of the spirit directly affect the health of the soul. There is a symbiotic relationship between the spirit and the body and the soul cannot be healthy unless we are doing the best we can to take care of both our spirits and our body.
In my case, I'm struggling with both. Physically, I'm over weight and therefore deal with many of obesity's attendant challenges. Spiritually, though I feel good about myself in a lot of ways, I'm not anywhere near where I'd like to be in my relationship with God and with all those around me.
The next question then, is what am I doing about it. Well, for starters, I've created this blog. In it I intend to catalog my journey to becoming whole. I know what it takes to be physically fit. I've been there before and I can, with God's help, get there again. I also know what it takes to be spiritually fat and I know I can get there with God's help.
I invite you to come on my journey with me. Anyone and everyone who feels the need to be come physically fit and spiritually fat is invited not only to read the blog, but be a part of it. Make your own entries and share your experiences. The goal is to encourage, lift and support each other in our individual journeys to soul healthiness. If you are interested, feel free to email me at pfsfrmac at gmail dot com.
More to come ....
".... feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness."
I've read that verse dozens of times, but this time it hit me differently. The question that popped into my mind was, "Have you noticed how the scriptures (i.e. the Word of Wisdom) teach us to be physically fit, and yet spiritually fat?" I had never considered that juxtaposition before. How many times to we read about the importance of our bodies? How many times to we read the word "feast" in relation to the word of God?
These thoughts were particularly poignant for me as I began to contemplate my own situation. Doctrine and Covenants 88:15 states "....the spirit and the body are the soul of man." In other words, the health of the body and the health of the spirit directly affect the health of the soul. There is a symbiotic relationship between the spirit and the body and the soul cannot be healthy unless we are doing the best we can to take care of both our spirits and our body.
In my case, I'm struggling with both. Physically, I'm over weight and therefore deal with many of obesity's attendant challenges. Spiritually, though I feel good about myself in a lot of ways, I'm not anywhere near where I'd like to be in my relationship with God and with all those around me.
The next question then, is what am I doing about it. Well, for starters, I've created this blog. In it I intend to catalog my journey to becoming whole. I know what it takes to be physically fit. I've been there before and I can, with God's help, get there again. I also know what it takes to be spiritually fat and I know I can get there with God's help.
I invite you to come on my journey with me. Anyone and everyone who feels the need to be come physically fit and spiritually fat is invited not only to read the blog, but be a part of it. Make your own entries and share your experiences. The goal is to encourage, lift and support each other in our individual journeys to soul healthiness. If you are interested, feel free to email me at pfsfrmac at gmail dot com.
More to come ....
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