Our Total Being

When I wrote my meditation “Earthen Vessels” for The Upper Room, it brought up so many memories of my playing days. A verse from scripture emphasized my feelings as an athlete: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14, NIV).

The body is such an astonishing creation; it keeps us going without any thought from us. Automatically, our heart beats, we breathe, and our blood circulates and carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Plus, the body heals itself as our blood clots after an injury, our immunity system kicks in to fight invaders, and broken bones mend themselves.

But there is so much more than the physical body. To gain the total value of our marvelous bodies, we need to welcome and nourish the Spirit within us and acknowledge how God’s grace, mercy, and love affects our total being.

As a former athlete, I am so thankful for the amazing body that allowed me to compete at such a high level. I am far more thankful that it is “in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).