Donuts and Coffee (Psalms 39:4-5)

When I was a medical student and resident, I would look forward to morning educational conferences because there was always a big platter of donuts and hot coffee awaiting us. Oh, how I loved eating those glazed AND chocolate donuts and depending upon the season, fresh strawberry filled donuts. And I never had to choose amongst them, I ate them all! Washed down with a hot cup of coffee, I was good to go...until the next conference!

Now, many years later, I still enjoy donuts but only sparingly eat them. My body’s metabolism has slowed tremendously and if I were to eat even one extra donut a day, I would quickly gain weight. It has been amusing and sobering to chart the gradual slowing of my body. In my 20’s when I was a student and resident, I could ferociously eat with no thought to weight gain. I can recall eating a dozen tacos and a foot long hot dog at one sitting. Usually these binges would take place on a Saturday. Although I would be bloated by the end of the meal, by Monday morning, any food bulge would be gone. As I reached my 30’s, I found the food bulge took until the following Wednesday to diminish. By the time I reached my 40’s, I was fortunate if the food bulge would disappear by the next Saturday and by my mid-40’s, the bulge did not disappear! In fact, I began to gain about a pound a year!

By the time I reached my 50’s I knew I had to stop this unhealthy pattern. I simply chose to eat less, exercise more, and be more selective in what I ate. A plateful of donuts would be limited to only one bite of a donut. The change in behavior did work and at age 53, I am now back to the weight I was in my 20s.

A slowing metabolism is just another reminder of the inevitability of age. We can chose to age gracefully or we can rebel against it. How many ads have you seen of people in their 60’s and 70’s sporting a body that looks like a photo-altered shot of their head transplanted atop a 20 year old body? Testosterone shots! Growth hormone supplements! Anything and everything that can help you recapture your youth!

Aging is a continual reminder that our earthly existence is finite.

Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.
Psalms 39:4-5

The Bible reminds us that although we may fight it, the purpose of aging is to lead us to a closer relationship with God, our Creator. Since He created us, He also knows how to preserve us. And it is not the physical body that is most important, it is our very soul and spirit that God wants to save, for eternity. The only way to do this is by accepting God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior.

And when you do accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, a new body will await you in Heaven. No more slowing metabolism, aches, pains...and no more tears. Just the greatest peace, happiness, and contentment you will ever know!

Love and seek the Lord; seek His will in your life.