Exercises For the Soul!

 

We have had three beautiful sunny days in a row, delightful after enduring a long winter of snow, ice and subfreezing temperatures here in Michigan.  I was even able to go outside for a couple of walks around the neighborhood, a nice change from walking and exercising indoors.

 The local Meteorologist reminded us though that it isn’t unusual to have 20 to 30 degree temperatures in February and March! Oh well! Every minute of sunshine is appreciated, especially during these frigid months.

Al and I have been able to continue exercising on his bike, now fastened on a “trainer” in his office. He joined a gym with an indoor pool and has enjoyed doing water aerobics, while I use an exercise ball every day to keep limber and moving!

 After getting up in the morning, I love raising the blinds and looking up at the sky. Houses are close together in our neighborhood; so, looking up means focusing on that patch of sky visible over the neighbor’s rooftop and through the tall evergreens lining his back fence.

No matter if the sky is gray, filled with snow, or lit up by the rising sun, that simple act always seems to put things in perspective.  Sometimes it is covered with foreboding clouds; other times they race across the sky, driven by the invisible force of the wind.  

On mornings that I happen to see the sunrise, my soul is refreshed and uplifted. And on dreary days, looking up reminds me that the sun is shining above the clouds and that God is still here with us. There is plenty for which to be thankful!

Al usually prepares hot tea and gets breakfast ready, allowing me to have a time for Bible reading and journaling. When I go into the dining room, I flip the switch for the overhead light and turn on the lamps in the living room, making the house look much cheerier! 

The sounds of beautiful music can be heard coming from the kitchen, as he busies himself with breakfast. Our morning meal is often accompanied by classical and instrumental music, including favorite hymns, and orchestral arrangements of other familiar songs. Peaceful, calm and uplifting music also helps set the tone for the day.

Later in the day, if there is a patch of sunlight coming through a kitchen window or beaming into the sunroom, I’ll find it! Soaking in the warm rays feels wonderful in cold weather.

            Besides exercising the body, these daily exercises for the soul help lighten the dreary days of winter and provide much needed refreshment: 1) Looking up 2) Turning on the lights and soaking in sunshine if available! 3) Listening to beautiful music.

 Laughing daily helps too, even at ourselves. For example, after searching high and low for the special magnetic clip-on sunglasses that came with my prescription glasses, panic started to set in. Where could they be?  I wondered.

The next morning, I opened up my prayer binder, and there they were—exactly where I had put them the previous day! Instead of putting them back in the glasses case, I had laid them on the open binder. Later, the binder was closed and put away, without noticing the small clip-ons. I had to laugh! Praise God for taking care of me even when absent-minded!

All of these things are wonderful exercises for the soul and can be done all year round. However, most important are those actions that bring us closer to God and cause us to grow in our relationship with Him: prayer, Bible Study, worship, meeting with other Christians, serving and loving others as He loves us…

Joy is found in His presence, no matter what the circumstances!

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

                Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’

 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:1-5 NIV