| In the New Testament of the Holy Bible is the | | | | Actions have consequences and with those |
| text about our bodies as a temple. "...that your | | | | actions come the treatment of our body. Doing |
| body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, | | | | dangerous things like rock-climbing, mountaineering, |
| whom you have from God, and that you are not | | | | kayaking, canoeing, extreme bicycling, |
| your own." 1 Corinthians 6:19. Many have | | | | motorcycling or even race car driving is welcome. |
| discussed the debate about our physical bodies | | | | Before taking on such endeavors we need to |
| belong to God the Father, God the Son, and God | | | | think through the consequences of our actions, |
| the Holy Spirit. This may or may not be true. To | | | | and wear all safety equipment as they apply. One |
| some degree I believe this to be true. However, I | | | | slip up can mean life or death especially without |
| have a mind, given to me by God, in which He | | | | specific safety protection. For instance don't want |
| has given me the ability to choose for myself | | | | to go rock-climbing without ropes and carabineers. |
| how I take care of my body. With that | | | | We need not ride our motorcycles without at |
| knowledge then wouldn't it be best for me to | | | | least helmet, gloves, jacket and rubber soled |
| choose to be a good steward of my physical | | | | boots. |
| body? | | | | Danger is all around us, and what we choose to |
| The premise here is that we have a temple and | | | | do can help or hinder. We can get hurt just by |
| our mind inhabits that temple. The temple is an | | | | walking across the street. I firmly believe that if |
| edifice for religious exercises or a place devoted | | | | we were conscious then our risks would be |
| for a special purpose. When we use the word | | | | minimal. Our body is sacred, a temple unto God or |
| temple we commonly define it as a sacred place. | | | | the Universe we currently live. What does sacred |
| Sacred is a place in which is dedicated or set | | | | mean to you? How can you define the body as a |
| apart for the worship of a deity. The sacred is | | | | temple? Our lives, our body is precious, and needs |
| usually reverence for that which is Holy; not | | | | to be treated as such. Even if we cover our |
| profane and not secular. | | | | bodies with tattoos, those tattoos are on the |
| To look at our bodies with these definitions gives | | | | temple of our soul. What do you want to |
| us another outlook on life. Above we've | | | | convey? Or we could say, "What is your intention |
| established that our bodies are sacred. Sacredness | | | | with the tattoos or anything else we do to our |
| of body will cause us to rethink and ponder our | | | | bodies. |
| habits in relationship with our bodies and how we | | | | The things we eat, breathe, smell, or do to our |
| treat them. For instance what we see, smell, | | | | bodies has a lasting affect upon the health of our |
| taste feel, hear, and sense affects the health of | | | | bodies. There is a theory about Hepatitis "C." That |
| our bodies. When it comes to living an artful life | | | | Theory states that Hepatitis "C" could be the |
| those very senses play a major role in keeping us | | | | result of having tongues pierced. The thought is |
| healthy. Keeping our human bodies healthy is our | | | | that the tongue has changed, and now will allow |
| goal. | | | | more bacteria into the body in which the liver has |
| Pondering upon all this information some confusion | | | | to clean out. This is only a theory, because we |
| just may have entered into your thoughts. Think | | | | also know that dirty needles can bring about |
| of it this way: "what we put into our body directly | | | | Hepatitis "C." |
| affects our health." How? By the foods we eat | | | | The body is our sacred temple. By thinking about |
| and drink, by what we breathe in besides oxygen, | | | | our health in relationship with our bodies we |
| by our thoughts and ideas. If we continue to eat | | | | provide ways in which to honor our human body. |
| saturated fat, fried foods, and large portions our | | | | This body is our outer shell from the world's |
| bodies will become slushy, fatigued, slow moving | | | | mess including stress, disease, and bacteria. Take |
| machines. (Me two years ago carrying nearly 240 | | | | care of your temple, enjoy life, and wear all |
| pounds.) Think about what happens when you add | | | | safety devices as they apply. Listen to the words |
| cigarettes, too much beer, and possibly drugs. I'm | | | | that have been used, and know that they will |
| not here to place judgment. I just want you to | | | | come out of your own mouth. What we hear |
| think about how your body feels after partaking | | | | goes into our brain, and will enter our thoughts. In |
| in these vices. I believe whole heartily that being | | | | order to maintain our temple we must nurture |
| as healthy as we can be is having your body be | | | | and care for it, in a sacred manner. |
| sacred. | | | | |