Think of all the things our bodies can do. We see, hear, smell, touch, taste and move. In order to move we must have bones, muscles, nerves and blood. Think of how a smile and kind word can brighten your day. Would we see that smile and hear those words if not for our eyes and ears? Could we hug without arms and kiss without lips? Could we help others without the use of our hands and feet? Indeed many of us have learned to adapt to life with the challenge of physical differences. Our bodies have the God-given ability to adapt to change. In truth we are all physically different from every other person on earth, and we all have a uniquely different purpose. What gives your life purposeful momentum? What physical attributes do you need to fulfill that purpose? A worker in the soup kitchen needs a strong back and arms to lift heavy pots. A hospice volunteer uses hands to hold and comfort others.
Elizabeth Clark found purpose in the form of a small scrawny dog. Elizabeth lives alone in York County. She suffered a broken hip about a year ago and has been making a slow recovery. Movement has been difficult and she needed the help of a walker. One day during her recovery, the phone rang. The voice on the other end said a small dog had been found in a dumpster. It had been abused, set on fire and left to die. Elizabeth was asked to care for the dog until a home could be found. Today the dog has a home…with Elizabeth! And thanks to the physical work required to take care of a dog, she is now making a speedy recovery. The daily bending down to feed him, walking to the door to let him out and in, and even petting and bathing the dog has been great exercise. |
Elizabeth now walks without her walker and uses her cane only occasionally. Was it meant for the little dog to make its home with Elizabeth? Do they both benefit from and have purpose for each other?
Keeping our bodies (temples) in good working order helps us fulfill our purpose. Often the reverse is true; striving to be purposeful keeps our bodies going. It has been proven that physical activity delays, and in some cases reverses, the slowing down process that comes with age. Exercise, eating right, and having regular check-ups are a must if we are to be useful to others. The good news is that exercise is getting easier! We now know that any movement is good for you! Everything from exercise classes to fun trips with friends provides useful activity. You don’t have to measure it, count it, record it, or pay for it. In the words of a famous commercial “just do it!”
We are living in an age where medical information and health screenings are readily available. This gives us the power to take charge of our own well being. Congratulations to the hundreds of Hampton Roads seniors who took advantage of the free screenings and health information at SeniorFest ’99.
How profound is the wasted potential of a person who finds no horizons that are new. Does your life have purposeful momentum? Have you looked for the next horizon? What will it take to get there?…Just do it! |
