#souldfulsundays - Kim Sims, MD

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_E6833-1024x740.jpg — Soulful Sundays: Once a week I will have an installment that speaks to my spirituality, because, as I’ve said, to me, spiritual wellness, is essential to complete wellness. Because I am Christian, my spirituality is heavily based on my relationship with the Trinity and the Christian Bible. If reading about God, Jesus, or the Spirit will offend your sensibilities, these posts aren’t for you–be advised

“But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
Romans 8:25 ASV

A recurring theme for me this week has been patience—my need to cultivate it.

First of all, when speaking of general wellness, it serves as a great reminder that we must practice patience:

Patience in our hardships. Someone described this in a non-spiritual way, and I love how science and spiritual agree: trouble will only last so long because there is always regression to the mean, and so nothing can stay horrible forever. She said this to me while rationalizing her own patience through a particularly horrible time in her life. Things can stay bad for a very long time, but as I told my son today, everything, good and bad, ends eventually.
Patience with ourselves: we aren’t perfect. We can only continue to try our best. When we really mess things up, all we can do is pick ourselves up, and try again given the chance, while giving thanks for the chance. I let myself enter a major migraine episode, mainly because I wasn’t sure when the right time to take my medicine was…I don’t like medicating when I don’t have to, but I waited too long. I was kicking myself, and someone reminded me I’m still in a learning stage. Patience.
Patience with those around us: we aren’t perfect, and neither are they.

There are so many other places to practice patience. I could type all evening. What I’m saying is we’d be a little more mentally well, and our relationships would be a little healthier with a bit more patience.

“Yea, and for this very cause adding to your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue, an din your virtue, knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.”
2 Peter 1:5-7 ASV

Well, spiritually, like never before in my life, I am seeing, not academically, but with my whole spirit, the fundamental connection between trust and patience. I’ve been really praying on a situation, and telling myself that I was trusting God to handle it. Well, this week, I almost worsened the situation because I became impatient and wanted to move quickly. Interestingly, prior to the events, a friend posted and interesting twist in the fruits of the spirit, so that when I was praying on the decision, patience was very much what I was receiving back. And the self control I exercised then led me down a path of exercising…you guessed it…MORE PATIENCE. What I was ready to steam roll in weeks may take months. But it’s likely for the best.

If I’m trusting God to handle my situations, I’m also trusting his timing. So let me sit down, again.

“Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4 ASV

“Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? And ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 KJV

I just got home today from a conference surrounded by my colleagues in internal medicine, learning about updates in the field, wellness, resiliency, and networking. And so, of course, this, one of my favorite passages, resonates with me today. Because I find that we often forget…I often forget…that my body, this thing that I sometimes neglect in the name of serving others, houses the Spirit.

So let’s talk about that. Let’s talk about what that means.

When the Israelites were privileged to have God in their presence, they were instructed to build a tabernacle. It was holy, and sacred. They had specific instructions for its care, and for who could enter, and how they could enter.

Through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, Christians are privileged to have access to this relationship 24/7, in our own bodies. It means our bodies are sacred places. It means our wellness is a sacred thing—after all, we only get one physical temple. Yes, it will age. It will become ill. It will meet hardships. But we are also given the responsibility to treat it with the respect and honor of the temple that houses the Spirit.

Growing up, I always heard this read to teach against tattoos, sexual immorality, etc. But as a physician and someone who is learning more and more what it truly means to live well, I truly feel we’ve done this verse a disservice, and that treating our bodies with respect is so much deeper than this.

Eat well. Stop putting so much fast food, processed food, sugar and excess into our bodies that we constantly feel sluggish.

Exercise. Renew energy and build strength through movement.

Rest. Stop burning the candle at both ends and sit down long enough to hear God’s voice and direction in our lives.

Draw boundaries. Learn to say no to the things that aren’t serving His purpose in our lives or allowing us time to ensure we are caring for ourselves.

Give the Spirit a home that is strong, resilient, and ready to serve.

I know I’m still learning. I’m a work in progress. But it’s so important to remember that caring for this body is important as we are stewards of all we’ve been given, and health is such an important blessing! Let’s not take it for granted.

Tag: #souldfulsundays

Patience

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