Weighty Issues

My latest Runner's World magazine had an interesting article titled "Running on Empty."  It talks about cutting food to gain speed and how easy it is to cross the line from eating smart to barely eating.  You can read about how weight affects running performance on my other blog, McMarathon Moments, but I started thinking about how this applies to us spiritually.  I'm not saying I'm 100% right on this, but here are my thoughts:

Overweight
I really struggled with this one.  Can we be overweight spiritually?   I don't think we can be too full of God's Spirit, but what about the Pharisees?  They fasted often, followed every line of the Law, but were also extremely critical of everyone who didn't measure up in their eyes.  A great example of this is found in Luke 18:10-14.

Slightly Overweight
Perhaps this is a person carrying the extra weight of works ~ at risk of doing too many works and not taking the time to get their spirit filled up.  Not quite a Pharisee, but in danger of going that way.  This might happen when a person is busy in the kingdom and they start looking around at people who don't seem to be doing as much. 

Average Weight
This is the best place to be.  Your prayer life is consistent, you spend time in the Word because you want to, you enjoy worshiping freely and you experience joy even in the hardest of times. You love God and your fellow man.  You enjoy giving of your time and talents.

Slightly Underweight
You suffer from being undernourished.  Your prayer and Bible reading time is limited to church services.  There are still times of joy, but not as frequent. You start looking at the world and wanting a taste. 

Underweight
How do you become undernourished?  Just stop going to church for a while.  Find other things to do with your time.  Fill your mind and spirit with "junk food." You will suffer as your spirit tries to break through every time you do attend service.

Drastically Underweight
Talking about running, the article said "If you've basically stopped eating, you tax your heart so much that you're at risk for a heart attack or stroke."  For the spiritual man, if you've basically stopped eating spiritual food, you will tax your spirit so much that you're at risk of being lost.

Just as there are many charts that suggest a healthy weight, I'm sure there are many ways to find a healthy spiritual weight as well.  The most important question we have to ask ourselves: "Is there anything in my life today that would keep me from heaven?"

I'm Not Kidding!

I know I talk and talk about Santa Ana winds. You may even think I've over exaggerated a bit. So don't take my word for it. Believe the LATimes!

Strong winds on San Bernardino County freeways caused five big rigs to overturn in less than three hours Wednesday, the California Highway Patrol said.

Lanes on the southbound 15 Freeway at the 10 Freeway connector in Rancho Cucamonga were closed for 4 1/2 hours while authorities cleaned up a fuel spill from the first accident at 4:15 a.m.

Authorities said the 58-mph winds in the area were the strongest San Bernardino County has experienced in eight months.

Two more rigs overturned shortly after 6 a.m. in the same area, but on the northbound 15 Freeway at the 10 Freeway connector, said CHP spokeswoman Jaci Parent.

A fourth rig turned over half an hour later on the 10 Freeway near the Etiwanda exit in Rancho Cucamonga, Parent said.

The fifth incident occurred at 7 a.m. on the eastbound 60 Freeway near the northbound 15 Freeway connector near the border of Rancho Cucamonga and Riverside, Parent said.

This makes me so thankful that Dad is retired! The last couple of years he worked, he drove a big rig from Tulare to LaMirada five nights a week. It's not snow and ice, but it sure is causing problems around here.