There is power in the written word. I know this is not some grandiose revelation on par with global warming or Justin Beiber’s twitter musings, but nevertheless, texts can transform individuals and society. A well crafted paragraph can make the most mundane appear clad in rapturous glory. I just finished a marvelous book on punctuation. Yes, I said punctuation. If you would have said that a book on commas and apostrophes could tickle my gizzard like a prat fall by Jim Carrey, I would have snickered in your face. Now it is hardly fair to compare a quotation mark to Jim Carrey, although both can be very annoying and you often don’t know what to do with either, this tome certainly supports my premise that almost any subject - well structured and woven into written language - can be rendered fascinating. The genius of many science writers, for example, is not their mastery of equations and incomprehensible synaptic connections, is in their ability to make physics interesting and understandable. I consider it genius to be able to transform quantum mechanics and biochemical genomics into readable, even exciting prose. It is much more common and pedestrian of these braniacs to frightfully pierce those of us with lessor intellects with their barbed jargon and make us feel like a blond super-model at a Mensa convention. The real superstars of the scientific realm are those visionaries like Richard Feynman and Michio Kaku who can take black holes and space-time continuums and make them as understandable as compounded interest. They have a gift for making the complex simple without diluting the wonder, and this requires not only a massive understanding of the topic but a mastery of language. Granted, some of this transformation may be accomplished by a wordsmith editor who transforms a unreadable rough draft into a shiny pearl, but I suspect that these titans of the intellect submit drafts that are polished, punctuated and polemically correct. At least I want to believe that.
This genius is not limited to science writing, as it can be applied to any challenging study. I am particularly flabbergasted by those who elect Christian apologetics as their chosen form of diatribe. Now there is a topic as potentially complex, confusing and uncomfortable as a preacher at a LGBT convention. As you know, apologetics is a logical defense of the Gospel which, for many secularists, is a contradiction in terms. The genius of G.K. Chesterton or C.S.Lewis is in their ability to take highly complex theological concepts and make them understandable to the masses. What I find truly fascinating is that they accomplish this without compromising the integrity of the Scripture or the sanctity of the topic. I suspect the real reason for their success lies in using their first two initials in all their writings, which puts J.R.R. Tolkien in a class all by himself. For evermore I will be known as J.R. Eaker, as if this will transport me into literary hyperspace. Realistically I suspect Lewis, in particular, is the best thing to happen to apologetics in the twentieth century as his books on pain, evil, and foundational Christian beliefs prove my premise that words are transformative. And it is not just the words, but how they weave them together in a majestic, multicolored tapestry that resonates with so many. Both Lewis and Chesterton can write in such a way as to explain the complicated to believers and non believers alike thus reinforcing their almost universal utility in evangelism. They educate those who are followers of Jesus, and convince those who are not, and this is not an easy bridge to cross. They do it with words and word pictures that are painted with a pallet of logic and truth thus providing a masterpiece that can be appreciated by those well versed in art appreciation as well as those who think stick figures are neat.
A third area that illustrates my belief in the power of words is in storytelling. Everything we do, experience, even think, is in some way a story. We crave stories as the sustenance that feeds our passions. We love the stories of others almost as much as we love our own story, even if we don’t realize we are in one. A powerful story teller can enrapture an audience and transform thought, but in verbal form this medium is limited. This is changing as YouTube and various other visual and auditory storytelling venues are universally assessable, however the written word still can take you to places that other media can’t. I believe this is due to the individualized, intrinsic filter that all words pass, the human brain. Lacking the immediate stimulation of the visual queues as a video possesses, the written word creates brain images unique to that individual. If two people watch a Beyonce music video, they both see much the same thing (although your reaction may vary depending on your age, marital status, and understanding of the term “bootylicious”); however, if two people read an essay on the rise and fall of the “bootylicious” genre( I just wanted to use that term again) you will find two different experiences because the brain fills in the sensory gaps. This doesn’t mean that any medium is superior, as I have as much respect for a Spielberg as I do for a Longfellow, they are just different in their impact on the individual.
Ten Commandments of Good Health
Many years ago a desert dweller climbed a mountain and talked to a bush on fire. What resulted was a set of laws that was to revolutionize mankind’s behavior. These were not ten suggestions formulated by a long range planning committee nor were they ten proposals put forth by a strategic consultant, they were commandments from a Holy God. These laws have become almost universally accepted, even by divergent religions, as wise and worthy of adopting.
With all humility and a sincere desire to be unpretentious (I am not even worthy enough to scrape the grasshoppers from Moses’ designer goat skin sandals), I propose the Ten Commandments of good health to serve as a lamppost for your journey down fitness lane. It seems unfair to hurry through these guidelines, so I will opine in both this month’s and next month’s column to cover them all.
Commandment One
You Shall Exercise:
Live Longer, Reduce Stress, and Grow Your Brain
Exercise is the elusive fountain of youth. If you are heavy, harried or hormonal, moving with purpose is a critical part of the solution. Everyone knows exercise is good for you, but few of us follow through. Exercise begins above the neck with a commitment to self and family. Part of this motivation lies in the hidden benefits of exercise that are not common knowledge such as the prevention of breast and prostate cancer, reduction in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and as a cure for clinical depression. Start with a simple walking program and free yourself from the “couch of doom”.
Commandment Two
You Shall Rest:
A Nap a Day May Keep the Doctor Away
We live in a hurry-up culture where “Just Do It” supplants “Let It Be”. Busyness has become a virtue that is without merit. Idle hands are the devil’s playthings only in those who haven’t learned the discipline of relaxation. Certainly there is a place for goal setting and industrious behavior, but there is also a purpose in rest and play. Relaxing on purpose is healthier than just doing something aimlessly. A major area of our lives that is most affected by this culture of chaos is sleep. The average adult requires eight hours of restful sleep a night to function best the next day. The average adult actually gets around six hours of sleep a night. This obvious disconnect leads to chronic fatigue and foggy thinking. 40% of Americans (100 million people) are moderately to severely sleep-deprived!
Commandment Three
You Shall Not Worry:
Make Stress Work For You
Stress is the little yapping dog biting at the heels of our health. It is generally an annoyance, but, if it goes on long enough, can become a festering wound. There are a number of books and counselors that provide a wealth of guidance on effective stress management in a world that oozes anxiety. Studies indicate that up to 75% of visits to doctors are related to anxiety. Stress is simply a perception of an internal or external event and thereby can be influenced by our thoughts. One person’s stress is another person’s opportunity. You will never be without stress, but you can control and minimize the adverse effects.
Commandment Four
You Shall Get Checkups:
Prevention Pays Lifelong Dividends
A healthy mind and body is dependent on action and education, not passivity and ignorance. You must be an advocate for you and your family’s well-being by embracing prevention. Men are especially negligent in this arena, and often decisions regarding family health are delegated (by default) to women in the household. Seventy percent of health decisions involving the family are made by mom, which includes checkups, vaccines, nutrition, and screening tests. Most importantly, the woman, by her actions and decisions, sets the tone for current and future health decisions. A major health care crisis today is not cancer, AIDS, or heart disease, but people not making healthy, proactive lifestyle decisions. We have to transform a system based on sick care to one that truly embraces well care, and that can only be achieved by practicing individual, responsible prevention.
Commandment Five
You Shall Not Be Gluttonous:
Eat Your Way to Good Health
We are often called a society of consumption. The talking heads are referring to consumerism; however, the real consumption issue is what we eat. Our diet has more of an impact on our health and longevity than almost any other activity. Content and quantity are the evil twins of gluttony. There are four simple guidelines that, if followed consistently, will provide a foundation of healthy nutrition that will build a legacy of wellness. Simply stated, eat balanced, low fat, low sugar, and high fiber meals. It is possible to alter the health inheritance of our kids and grand-kids by changing how we think about food. You can spring the family from the prison of poor nutrition and not be held captive by your genetics through a simple and doable eating plan. We truly are what we eat.
Next time…what else but six through ten!
