Some food is healthy and some food is not.  We all need to eat…but the actual practice of eating can help or hurt us, depending on what we actually INGEST.

Is it not the same with meditation?  What our mind ingests?   Can we meditate to calm our anxiety?  Can we meditate our way to mental health?  Exactly what is meditation and does it work?

Meditation can have many different connotations, some secular and some spiritual.

For example, it is a part of modern yoga where it has come to mean a form of mindfulness….an effort to increase one’s awareness by paying nonjudgemental attention to the present moment.

( Though yoga may help stress,  anxiety, and quality of life, there are studies that show that simple stretching may be  as or more effective than yoga in this regard.  I don’t think mandatory Yoga classes will solve the world’s problems…or yours.)

There are other forms of meditation –

Some forms of meditation involve an effort to “empty the mind”.

Some involve chanting.

Some involve focusing on sounds or visualization techniques.

Some involve breathing awareness or breathing techniques.

It is obvious that meditation can mean a lot of different things.  I would like to make the argument that, just like eating can help or hurt,  some meditation is helpful and some is harmful.

Soooooo…………..What is helpful meditation?

#1 – if your life is always in a drive mode to do more, be more, accomplish more….If you are always busy, then shifting from drive to neutral and taking time to slow down is helpful.    We were not created to always be in high gear, always in “drive.”  We were created with a need for rest.  Not just physical rest, but mental rest also.   We all do need to learn the art of  BEING STILL.

#2 – Don’t JUST be still.  God says to be still AND know that I am God!  No matter what the world says about how we can help ourselves or what we need, I am thoroughly convinced that apart from God you will never find true, lasting rest.  You were created by God, but also for God.  Just like I think a man and wife, deeply in love, were MADE for each other and are not happy apart, you were made for God and will be restless until you find your rest in Him.

#3 – Once you “come to your senses,” so to speak, like the prodigal son, and come home to God, begin to meditate or focus on the absolute truths that God has revealed.  Your mind is capable of being deceived.  It does need to be renewed, but only by ingesting or dwelling on healthy things.  You need to develop a worldview based on reality.  It is amazing how something very simple, like admitting that God is God, and I AM NOT, can bring a lot of relief to a troubled heart.  A restful mind is a wonderful thing to experience.  Center your mind on Your Creator, who promises that our peace increases as our trust of Him increases.

#4 – The media, in all its forms, and even some well meaning Christian leaders would have us focus on what is wrong in the world.  I think they seek to use fear to influence us.  After all, there is a lot wrong!  But there is hope.  There are solutions.  Our focus should be on finding the right paths forward.    The past is in the past.  It might be a good learning tool, but mistakes in the past cannot be undone.  We are commanded by God to actively look today for “Whatever is true and honorable.  We are told to hunt for what is JUST!  What is pure and lovely.”   These are safe things to meditate on and pursue. (Phillipians 4)

#5 – In keeping with dwelling on what is good, If we spent more time thinking about and honoring those who acted unselfishly, those who put others first, those who wanted to really solve a problem and not just use it to promote an agenda, I think our society would look very different.  Healthy thoughts and gratefulness produce one chemical response in our brains.  Unhealthy thoughts produce another.  After all, a cheerful heart doeth good like medicine!

So, yes, meditation can help (or hurt) your mental health away …  it all depends on what you meditate on!

Last week discussed the subject of anxiety.  That is something EVERYONE struggles with.  There may be days that seem carefree, but there are many that are not.  When I am anxious, I have found that often it is that I (or life in general) feels out of control.  I really like control, and I suspect I am not alone.  

Here are five activities that may give temporary help with anxiety.  

1.  Laughter – comedians, funny sit-coms, jokes, funny stories, or anything that brings on deep and hardy laughter can change your mood
2. Nature – a peaceful walk in a meadow or the woods can be very calming
3. Discussing a problem with an optimistic friend – if you worry a lot, you can get to a point where it is hard to be objective about things and another viewpoint can help
4. Exercise – there is a natural release of endorphins
5. A good nights sleep – it is amazing how a lack of sleep makes everything seem worse.

                                                                     BUT THEN

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE PERMANENT HELP WITH ANXIETY………..  THERE IS A ROAD 

This road can be long and it involves going back to basics.  It involves changing your worldview in the direction of timeless truths that have been rejected by the world.  It involves learning to think differently, and that takes time.

To start, go back to the very beginning.  According to Nancy Pearcey, who wrote Total Truth ( a book I highly recommend), we need to go WAY back.  She says that the Christian message does not begin with “accept Christ as your Savior”:  it begins with “in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  The creation is orderly because He designed it that way.  The laws of physics and the laws of mathematics are nothing but a reflection of God.  There is nothing outside of His jurisdiction.  It is true that because of rebellion, creation is fallen and waiting for redemption, but His rule and beauty are still visible.  It helps anxiety to remember this.  

Sometimes I will gaze at the stars and wonder how all of the heavens just go on when I am in turmoil? But they do.   “The heavens declare the glory of God.”  (Type in heavens in a concordance and read the verses that come up)

Knowing God would NOT help my anxiety without knowing of His character and  His love for His creation.  He loves you!  He cares about what is troubling you, even to the smallest of matters.  His word says that He knows how many hairs are on your head.  Do you know how many hairs were on your head yesterday, or today?  

God invites you to know Him.  Read His word and learn.  Tell Him you want to know Him.  As you get to know Him, He can change your perspective.   When you do not know what to do in a situation, you can ask Him and find practical guidance and help.  Instead of following our own instincts, it is helpful to try and see things from God’s perspective.  He has a much broader view!  Why stumble around in the dark when you can turn on the light?  We can learn what is pleasing to Him.

 I will never like the feeling of being out of control, but in reality I am very limited in my ability.  Therefore it is a GOOD thing I am not in control.  Knowing who is and being able to ask for help makes all the difference.  Knowing that He loves me and cares, even when things seem dark and bleak, brings relief from feelings of hopelessness and despair.  It calms my fears.  

The world says there is no God.    But those who know Him are amazed at the foolishness of the world.  If you are uncertain, seek Him. ” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him”. (Lamentations 3:25) Tell Him you want to find Him and know Him.  There is nothing better than knowing God.   All real truth is God’s truth, and finding it will guide and guard you.

It is the only way to  bring REST TO YOUR SOUL

Today’s world is full of anxiety….and full of anxious people.  Anxiety is not a pleasant state, and can lead to all sorts of health problems, but in a world full of trouble, what is the answer?  How does one keep from being anxious?  How do you have peace in such troubled times?

There is an answer to this question, but it is not popular.  The answer goes against everything the world believes and teaches.  That is because the answer does not come from within ourselves.  It is nothing we can accomplish or even understand on our own.  It starts with acknowledging Truths that the world has totally rejected.  Of course that is why anxiety is so prevalent.

First of all, to not be anxious you have to recognize that you are not in control.  It is not up to you to make everything that is wrong, right.  It is not within your power to fix all things, including all your own problems, or even yourself.  That is a relief in one sense.

Secondly, if we are not in charge, then who is?  The world does not acknowledge God but He is still in charge.  Even though we humans, in our naivety and pride have decided that there is no creator, He has not gone anywhere.  As Psalm 2 says, “He who sits in the heavens laughs.”

God is true and His truth covers and effects ALL things.  He has control over every rainbow in the sky and every devastating earthquake.  God rules science which is,  in its truest sense,  our discovery of “the laws or creation ordinances by which God structured the world.” (quote from Total Truth, Pg 35 by Nancy Pearson)   We have made it something else.

Thirdly, to escape anxiety, we need to KNOW this God.

Jesus, when He was on earth, made the statement “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John6:44). Tell God you want to get to know Him.  Christ came to give you peace and take away your anxiety.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

So, if you would like to find the antidote to anxiety, come to Jesus.  He is real. He knows how messed up you are and He loves you.   Give your life to Him along will all of your anxiety.   The battle belongs to the Lord.  He will gradually take your fears as you learn to trust Him.   This world will never be “fixed” as long as God’s creation is in rebellion against Him.  But that does not mean that individually, we cannot abide in His presence and peace, even in the midst of turmoil and chaos.

Then your prayer will join with others …… THY KINGDOM COME AND THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

PS – Anxiety can take many different forms.  Causes of anxiety are numerous and varied.  Everyone experiences it. Sometimes I am anxious and do not even fully know where the anxiety is coming from.  It is important to learn HOW to rest in God.  That is NOT a quick fix and is not something we do naturally.   Coming to the end of ourselves and learning to abide in God can be a long and excruciating road.  It can take a lot of  time and effort.  But He promises it is worth it….and avoiding the alternative is worth whatever it takes!

Let’s discuss some PRACTICAL ways to fight anxiety and pursue the peace of God’s presence in the next blog.

I don’t care who you are or what front you put up for the world to see, I know something about you ………because it is true of everyone.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE AFRAID!

Everyone experiences fear.  It may be a fear of failure or a fear of loneliness.  It may be a fear of pain or sickness or death.  The world is cloaked with fear … the pandemic may have made it worse but it is not anything new.

It is not a weakness to be afraid.  It is what you do when you are afraid that matters.  You can hide and pretend.  You can close yourself off from people.  You can try to face it in your own strength but that is difficult.  So how can you conquer your fears, whatever they may be?

I know that the ways to fight fear are as varied as the fears themselves, but I am convinced that there is only one healthy way to fight back.  That is with the truth.

Often, when you look at a fear face-on, you will find it to be way out of proportion.  Sometimes thinking of the worst possible outcome can help, at least with little fears.  For instance, I remember once I was afraid of approaching someone lest I be rejected.  But when I reasoned it out, not approaching the person was accepting rejection anyway, so I really would not be any worse off if I was rebuffed, than if I did not try.  So for little fears it may help to ask yourself, ” What is the worst that could happen?”

But what about BIG fears?  Pain and sorrow do come to all of us.  Ahhhhh ……but there is a balm in Gilead!  Do you know that saying?  Have you ever heard it?  Gilead was a town on the eastern side of the Jordan River.  Balm is a soothing substance to heal a wound.

To find the right “balm” for any problem or wound or fear,  you need to consult the right physician.  It is easy to find advice about a cure, but not so easy to find wise advise.  That is where “truth” comes in.  You need to go the the right physician with your fears.  Go to the Great Physician.  The creator of something understands that something better than anyone else.  The Creator of YOU understands YOU better than anyone else, including yourself!  God has a “balm” for your fears, whatever they may be.

As a human physician, I realize that there are medicines that do help with anxiety.  They can get you through the day.  I prescribe them, am grateful for them, and do not think it is wrong to make use of them.  But for deeper healing, admit the problem and take it to God.  When fear starts to take over, it is time to take action.  Pray.  Study and read God’s word…..for long periods.  It will take time.  King David was full of fear, and many of the psalms that he penned are a great place to get help.  Ask God to reveal to you the underlying source of your problem.  It is often hard to figure that out on your own, but God understands perfectly the source of every problem.

And remember, regardless of how people act, you are not alone in your fears.  We have all been there.   We are not all honest in admitting it, but life is scary.  Any journey is much more frightful without a map and a plan.  It is scary to be lost.  So, when I am afraid, or lost, or out of control, I go to my God and am so thankful that, at least with Him, I can be honest.  He is near, whether you sense Him or not, and He is willing to help.  He is waiting for you to ask!

What do you think of when you think of St Patrick’s day?  Shamrocks?  Green beer? Christianity?

Saint Patrick was “The Apostle of Ireland,” but he was NOT Irish!  

His original birth name was Maewyn Succat and he grew up in Roman Britain.    At the age of 16 he was captured by Irish pirates. He was then transported to Ireland where he was sold as a slave, and forced to care for sheep for the next 6 years.

It was sometime during this 6 year period that Saint Patrick became a Christian.  His father had been a Christian and a deacon in the church, but Patrick, as a youth, had not been interested.  While tending sheep as a slave, however, he was often hungry.  Turning to God, he prayed often and toward the end of his 6th year had a dream where he was told a ship was waiting for him.  He walked to the east coast of Ireland, about 200 miles away, and found a ship bound for Britain and convinced the captain to take him aboard.  That is how, after 6 years, he was finally able to escape.

After landing in Britain, he and some others had been wandering in wilderness for close to a month.  Without food they were essentially starving.  St Patrick prayed for food and soon came upon a wild boar. Saved from death and able to continue his trek,  St Patrick was able, eventually, to reach his home and family.

Once he was back home, he studied and became a cleric.  Then another vision directed him back to Ireland.

Once back in Ireland, St Patrick began to preach.  Not welcomed on the mainland, he started on surrounding islands.  During this time St Patrick wrote“Every day there is the chance that I will be killed, or surrounded, or taken into slavery.”  People began to be converted to Christ and with time St Patrick was able to come to the mainland.  It is felt his congregation was about 100,000 people eventually.  He baptized 1000s and helped to form over 300 churches.

It is believed that Saint Patrick lived during the 5th century and that he died on March 17, 461.  Now, centuries later, we celebrate the date of his death. So, to everyone of any descent, Irish or not, I wish you a  very happy St Patrick’s Day!  

Don’t forget to wear green!

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Sugar has taken a bad rap.   If we all ate sugar in limited quantities, it would be fine.  It’s just that we don’t.  HOWEVER, there is a substance that is worse and, I believe, deserves MORE blame than it gets for our societal health woes.  This substance was not even available in the United States before the 1960s.  Today it makes up over 20% of our daily carbohydrate intake.  So goes the story of HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP(HFCS).

HFCS  is made from corn starch.  It is processed, using enzymes, and in its final form contains a mixture of fructose and glucose, making it similar to table sugar.  However, it is cheaper and easier to use than sugar.    HFCS is a liquid, whereas table sugar is a solid.  All of this has resulted in HFCS being added, it seems, to virtually everything!  Because of this we are ingesting enormous quantities.  And that is leading to many health problems.

Humans metabolize fructose differently from other simple sugars.  Glucose, for instance, is metabolized by the brain, muscles, and the liver.  Fructose, however, is mainly metabolized in the liver.  In excess, it will raise your blood triglyceride level.   And all that fructose overload, when it is turned into fat,  can lead to a fatty liver.   When I was in medical school and residency, I never had a patient with a fatty liver.  Now it is extremely common.

Today HFCS is prevalent in most US soda drinks.  The popularity of soft drinks has led to generations of kids who often drink a full day’s worth of calories in addition to the solid food they eat!  This has helped lead to the ever-increasing obesity rate in America.  This in turn, has led to increased diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and likely increased cancer and dementia rates.

As to HFCS being everywhere, look at the list of foods below where it may be hiding:

1.  soda
2. candy
3. sweetened yogurt
4. salad dressing
5. frozen convenience foods
6. bread
7. canned fruit
8. juice
9. boxed dinners
10. granola bars
11. breakfast cereals
12. store bought baked goods
13. sauces and condiments (like ketchup!)
14. snack foods
15. cereal bars
16. nutrition bars
17. coffee creamer
18. energy and sports drinks
19. jams and jellies
20. ice cream

SO…….if Americans are to become healthy again, it is going to take changing the way we eat and drink.  We HAVE to go back to eating more whole, unadulterated foods.  We have to avoid so called foods that are made in labs.  We have kitchens, and we have curiosity and ingenuity!  Take your curiosity and ingenuity to your kitchen and see what YOU can come up with using whole ingredients.  And read food labels, avoiding anything that contains High Fructose Corn Syrup!