Finding the Balance

This is sort of a controversial topic. It's a health issue, and a little more important than I, til recently, gave it credit for having. Finding the balance, is difficult, so I would like some other opinions on the subject. I'll try to tread lightly.

When I went out to Ohio, on our way home, I met my wonderfully healthy Aunt, carrying her bottle of water and her ginger chews. I was awestruck at her spirituality and beauty. I had already been prepared by the Lord to learn everything I could from her, on matters of health, or rather, what we eat. I was not expecting to be spiritually challanged like I was, but I was. There are some conclusions that I have come to, and some questions that should still be asked.

In our modern day America, obesity has reached an all time high. Children are not concentrating in schools, nor do they have discipline at home. Health care is terrible (as far as affordable) and it seems like every time we turn around someone has cancer or some kid has autism or another has been recently diagnosed with diabetes. What is going on???? Well, we could be overly simplistic and say, "God's judgment." True, but in the midst of all this, what does God want us to learn? When do we accept a trial from the Lord as a means to reach others, and when to we take steps of precaution to prevent ill health?

These are questions I have been asking myself. I had already come to the conclusion that preaching at someone about their smoking problem, while I can't put down a can of Pepsi to save my life, cancels my message. A big ol' fat preacher, who can't say "no" to the next helping of ma's deep fried something or other is equally delusional if he thinks anyone should give credence to what he is saying. So how far to go? Should I get on the health wagon merely to lose weight (which is not a motivation that works for me, personally), or stay "cancer free", do it because others are looking at my testimony, or because it truely DOES glorify God when we think about what we put in our bodies?

I don't know about you, but I lean toward the latter. Think about it. We are concerned with what we listen to, what we put on our bodies, where we hang out, what we smoke or don't smoke, drink or don't drink, what comes out of our mouth, what goes into our mind, and what we watch. Why aren't we concerned with what we eat? We wouldn't send our daughter into a main stream retail store and say "pick out anything to wear on your first date." Why do we go into the grocery store and put any ol' thing into our basket without reading labels?

This is a huge elephant, as my Aunt says. I'm almost scared about what God is going to reveal about my lack of preparation in meals, disreguard for a balanced diet, and a general lack of fasting, but He is patient. He knows my budget, and how I can't exactly shop at a granola people store all the time, or buy every supplement item on the market. He knows I CAN read, and find out if what I'm eating is actually food or just sugar. The internet is a great source. He knows I can be disciplined in preparation of meals and knows I can add a few whole foods here and there. I'm reminded of Joseph (my bad- Daniel) and the pulse that he ate. He and his friends glowed after eating that stuff for a period of time, there must be something to a little whole foods discipline. I also think of how the WHOLE city of Nineveh went on a fasting spree, including the livestock, so I know that it won't kill John, me or my son to just eat a vegetable soup for a couple of days. We'll see. What do YOU think?