My mind is an active place. It feels like a processing plant some days, thinking, sorting, planning, evaluating, creating.
There have been studies about the differences between the male and female brains, and although I dislike to stereotype, I am fascinated how my hubby and I process differently.
I love the illustration that men are like waffles and women are like spaghetti. Yup, that’s me, strands of thought everywhere, at anytime. Where my hubby can focus on one thought and stay there, and we laugh that one of his “squares” in that waffle is a “nothing” box… it sounds quite restful to me!
I am grateful for the creative mind. But as I age, I find that my mind is racing far ahead of my body. And my body does not always cooperate with my mind! đŸ™‚
Have you ever been frustrated with your body? Oh, I know that I do not always like my shape, or my metabolism, and I must be reminded that God created me as I am, and accepting and loving that is as important as taking care of this vessel.
The body is a miraculous thing…. when we break something, our bones knit together as we heal. Scrapes and bruises disappear into clean skin. Renewal and healing happen daily, without our even noticing at times. The body’s ability to heal and restore is a miraculous thing.
Aging brings limitations. And loss. I often talk to patients in my work as a chaplain, and one of the most difficult things for people is when they lose their independence, or ability to do what they used to do. It could be their eyesight, or their hearing, or mobility issues. It could be chronic pain. When the mind is affected, that can be frightening indeed.
Sometimes I say, “it is frustrating when our bodies don’t do the things we want them to do”, and there is always agreement. We talk about how to come to peace about that, to accept the circumstances we find ourselves in, to do what we can to take care of ourselves, but ultimately to come to serenity.
Our minds are powerful however. What we think can affect our bodies. A positive attitude, a serene heart can affect our health!
The word surrender came to me this morning. I can trust the One who created me, who loves me. I ask for wisdom to practice healthy self-care, as I seek to live well.
I like to take that verse from Psalm 46 “Be Still and Know that I am God” and turn it into a prayer. “Still my Mind, that I may know You”, is a good prayer to pray. Practicing stillness and trust are keys to serenity.
In the busyness of life, even in all the good things, our minds can be crowded places. I am learning to practice stillness, to take a few minutes and just focus on God, or gaze quietly at the beautiful creation around us.
What are you thinking? In all your day holds, I pray there will be time for rest… for your mind and for your body!
