My life has been one long journey of learning how to stay healthy and trying to understand how to carry out all that entails. I started this very long journey by studying the world around me and trying to discover a few of the facts that seemed to be working for others in such a similar pursuit.
One day I stumbled across some interesting articles that spoke of some Orthodox monks living at Mount Athos.
In this small section of Greece, prayers have been offered up continually for more than one thousand years!
Can you imagine?
A CULTURE OF EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH AND DISEASE-FREE LIVES
Perhaps that fact alone, that these men live in constant prayer, is the reason that these Monks have exceptional health and live long disease-free lives.
If that is what has caused their good fortune and developed their apparent extremely good health, I’m sure the rest of us may soon find that avenue to be a bit impossible!
Yes I DO pray; but do I pray continuously? I’ve tried from time to time but I cannot honestly answer “yes” to that question. It is something to hope for.
IS CONSTANT PRAYER THE ANSWER?
Hence; prayers might have been offered up on the plot of ground where I live for over a thousand years too (for all I know, though doubtful) but it is that “continuous” part of the statement that wipes out any hope of my little plot of earth ever being so holy that it aids God in healing people. A lot of humanity lives within my house. Oh that it were rooted out and more Godliness could take its place!
I’m sure that in this place where I live there may have been long lapses of time between the many faithful prayers which we have humbly offered!
No one has prayed continuously here, or any other place close by.
I wish.
Bummer!
DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS
We know God is merciful and forgiving. Hopefully, we can find some other reasons (due to God’s mercy) that these people from Athos seem to live such long lives and maintain such healthy physical bodies!
What facts exist in their daily lifestyle; besides their constant devotion to Christ that makes them fare so well?
TEA????
Some people think it is the tea they consume.
Drinking tea is a local custom. Consuming certain types and kinds of teas CAN be a healthy practice. We will look into that later.
WINE??????
Some people think it is the wine they consume.
They do have their own brands of wine which are produced and grown locally.
Could that be the reason?
Some wines have been known to have healing qualities that come from the Great Healer named God Almighty. We will check out the healing factors found in certain wines at some point on our journey.
A MIX OF THIS AND THAT????
I guess we simply need to take a look at the whole picture of these devoted men and deduct our own conclusions. It could be anything. Maybe it could be the fresh air from the ocean breezes. Perhaps it could be the nutritious way they consume their food. Possibly it could be the exercise they get as they go about their daily labor. It could be a mix of all of the above.
In conclusion for now, there is only one thing that remains constant in all that they do though. We cannot pass that constant devotion to Christ off so easily. This part part of their daily living may actually be the whole sum of the equation.
THE FIRST POINT OF MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Here is where I began to deduct my own bullet-point, first fact for healthy living. The first and most important part of maintaining a healthy body is to maintain a healthy soul.
What good would it be to have a perfect physical body if we still are stuck with a rotten soul?
If we constantly practice the presence of God in all of our days, and direct our minds constantly toward Him; we will begin to find the first key toward maintaining a healthy life from within. Everything starts on the inside and works its way toward the outside. That is how Jesus lived; straight from the heart, inside outward. The things of His heart radiated out to the world from the rest of his physical body.
FINDING THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Life is how our body survives the decay of the world around us.
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life.” God is The Creator and the true source of all life. If our minds stay focused on returning to God (just as the needle of a compass constantly returns to the north;) God will stay the pole star of our inward being, and we will achieve the first step in maintaining whole health.
These monks (those that are living true to their creeds) have the first step and the first priority of life in order. That is the main thing.
Nothing else that affects their health and well-being could come to fruition without that very important first step.
We would start well by keeping this in mind. At this point I believe it would be safe to say; the first rule of good health is that: YOUR BODY CANNOT BE COMPLETELY HEALTHY UNTIL YOUR SOUL IS HEALTHY.
KEEPING SOUL HEALTH IS KEEPING BODY HEALTH
Yet; how do you keep your soul healthy?
Start with belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and a part of God Almighty. Confess your sins to Him and begin to live your daily life in pursuit of Him. To your confessions; add other prayer. Prayer is a two-way street – speak; but don’t forget to listen too.
Next; it would be great to continue those thoughts with study and meditation of the Holy Scriptures found in the Bible.
After deep study; end these higher thoughts by letting your actions reflect the things you have studied and learned and prayed to God about.
The big surprise is that we do not need to travel to some remote island in Greece to do this!
Without a doubt; each person can start right where they are.
By nurturing the soul, we will be well on the way to nurturing our physical bodies.
Let’s always remember this first, but critical step as we continue on our journey toward better health..