“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” -Genesis 2:7
“Women are promised they can manage the chaos ruling their life by following a laid-out plan…this mass consumerism is a vehicle for harnessing everything that feels turbulent in their lives,” writes Rina Raphael in The Gospel of Wellness. Her book goes on to reveal the ways that the pursuit of health, wellness and self-care have become vehicles for consumerism and capitalism.
In Genesis we read that humankind was formed from the dust of the earth; that God breathed the very breath of the Spirit into humanity to enliven our forms. And all of creation was pronounced very good.
We reclaim our sacred nature and recognize the holy in all of humanity when we honor the goodness of our bodies– as they were created. Indeed there is something so significant about being human that the divine became human in Jesus.
Perhaps the implicit message of the familiar story of the incarnation is actually an invitation to be more human.
Historically, religious systems have been built around eschewing our humanity to emulate divinity. But what if we embraced our humanity, learning to live within and appreciate our limitations and finitude instead of approaching our bodies as something to be fixed, a problem to be solved? What if we embraced pleasure and physicality? Imperfection and aging?
God may I appreciate the gift of my body as it is in this moment. May I wonder at the miracle of life and the abilities I have. May the seemingly small things I experience through my senses bring me great joy this day. Amen.
We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! Do you know someone who would be inspired by today’s post? Please share Some Comfort and Joy with them! Be sure to subscribe and never miss a post.
Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.
some comfort and joy 