The Body and Spirituality

Is it possible to find a connection between the Mind, Body, and Spirit? An idea that I hear often while working at the YMCA. In fact, this very idea has been debated for centuries and has all kinds of names and descriptions trying to get a handle on this relationship. My goal here, however, is not to rehash the various arguments that Philosophers have had, goodness knows that there are far more intelligent people to do that for me. Instead, consider this question: Why don't we talk about the body in the Christian context? Further, have you ever heard a sermon or seminar given on the body from a Christian perspective? If you have, I would be willing to contend that you are in the minority.

I am tempted to begin to speak of the 7 dead sins particularly the ideas of laziness and gluttony. We in America seem to spend a lot time in these two "deadly sins." The reason I say tempted is because it would be easy for me to get into the various understandings of the so called 7 deadly sins, but it is difficult to find these actual sins listed somewhere in the biblical text. We have received this understanding of the 7 deadly sins from our Roman Catholic Christian brothers and sisters. It is not my purpose to refute these, in fact I would be willing to say that the expression of these terms do help us to think about our own piety.

When you ask people about there thoughts concerning the body and their spirituality most would not make a connection between the body and the spirit. In fact most would hold a rather dualistic view that the body doesn't really matter because the ultimate goal a spiritual reward. Seemly the body becomes a hindrance to proper spirituality. There is therefore a need to discipline the body and somehow subdue it before full spiritual maturity can be realized. I submit to you this might not be a Christian idea. The idea here is that we cannot compartmentalize the body, the mind, and the soul. The truth is that all are integrated one cannot be effected without effecting the others. We are whole beings and need a holistic approach to our devotion to God. One might ask, if I exercise my body how am I exercising my mind and soul. I submit to you that our exercising the body can do wonders for the mind, which can come to affect the soul.

Let me explain. For all practical purposes when one exercises it is done with a particular point in mind. Typically we do not go to the gym or on a run without a goal in mind and most of us accomplish that goal before we finish exercising. The goal is to work the body. The question that must be asked is whether or not the mind is involved. Particularly with the acts of running, walking, cycling, or whatever cardio workouts you might do. Consider my own experience. As I run, whether alone or with my running partners, my mind is constantly thinking through various questions and ideas. This is natural, we think, we use the God given ability to think and we do it always. These adventures in the intellectual side of exercise gives me a chance to spend time contemplating on the things of God - with God, while spending time traveling through God's creation. The trifecta of what some people may call piety, personal devotion, alone time with God etc... This communion involves (1) God and (2) Me interacting or (3) communing in the sanctuary of his creation. Perhaps, we need to challenge the tradition of what we consider alone time with God to be. Typically one would say when I have quiet times with God I sit and read the scripture and pray. I submit to you that spending time with God could take a number of different forms. It is right to speak of God as everywhere at all times. Therefore, if the presence of God is all places at all times then why could we not commune with him at places at all times?

Care for the body can help us to care for the soul.
Piety can flow from discipline.

As the Sun Rises

I have been contemplating something that I heard, as presented by a good friend of mine, at the Sunrise Service that we attended on Easter. As the sun rose that cold brisk morning the question asked was: What is the importance of the reality of the resurrection? Recently, I have been engaging in a number of new relationships that have caused me to stop and reconsider what I think I thought about the things that Christians think about. Maybe not reconsider, but at the very least these relationships have helped me to re-establish a ground connection with Orthodox Christianity, given that the conversations with these people require me to know what it is that I think I believe. For example, consider the Easter season. The Easter season as with the Christmas season has been commercialized and its identity has been thieved. This could be another rant another time, but nevertheless, it brings me back to my original thought. Why celebrate Easter? What is the importance that lies behind the resurrection of the prophet from a small town called Nazareth? Consider the implication that if there was no resurrection there is no Christianity. Could this be reality? What if Jesus did not have a bodily resurrection? With the reality of the resurrection comes the strength and hope the lies behind Christianity.

Read John Updike's poem at http://www.edow.org/spirituality/updike.html

If I may use Updike's language, don't you dare mock God by making the resurrection some sort of metaphor. Don't allow yourself to begin to think that the body did not die. Or that the body did not live again. This is the hope of glory, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the Son rises so does the power to defeat death and the power to give life.

This is no Easter candy that melts in the sun.
This is the Son risen.