Life in its fullness

 

In looking at a black-and-white snapshot of my sister Judy and me from 1959, first I noticed the circular skirts of the 50’s, the lunch boxes and the saddle shoes (yuk). But then I realised that Judy was just 10, I was 8, and yet she dwarfed me. There looks like a much bigger age gap, and as Judy grew to be nearly 6’ tall, there was always a significant difference in our bodies.

And Judy was always disappointed in hers, that it was so big.

That makes me so sad, and that sadness extends to all those who hate their bodies for their size, their appearance, their abilities or disabilities, or whatever. God loves every body and has made each one to be a temple of his Holy Spirit. Every body is made to be the resting place for God himself.

Every body is beautiful.

Every morning in Brisbane, we were awakened by a chorus of wild sounds. Kookaburras and cockatoos, Australian ibis and ‘bush turkeys’, and some weird and wonderful bird with a very distinctive cry, insects and frogs, whatever inhabits a tropical rainforest: with exuberance and joy, each one lifted its voice at the break of a new day, and sang out, whatever song it was blessed to have. It was noisy; it was wild; it was beautiful, exuberant life.

Jesus came to give us life, life to the full; exuberant, joyful life. Whatever limitations or disappointments I may feel about my body today, I am so grateful that Jesus made it to be fit for his Spirit to live in. I pray for all those who are struggling with self-image today, Lord. Please open their eyes to see their physical bodies as you see them: each one unique and beautifully crafted, prepared to receive the divine presence.

May we all embrace ourselves as we embrace you and invite you in.