Leaves for Healing the nations - a few thoughts

So, day 2 on ‘the leaves are for the healing of the nations.’From an arts major, not a scientist.

I have learned today that plants put an equivalent amount of oxygen into the atmosphere to the CO2 they take out. And they put an equivalent amount of CO2 into the atmosphere as the oxygen they take out.

Because they take in a greater amount of CO2 every day than oxygen, the net result is that plants put oxygen into the atmosphere. They counteract some of the harm we do with all of our CO2 emissions.

No wonder tree planting is a good idea. And jungle burning is atrocious for many reasons.

So I can see that the rather humble leaf is critical for maintaining the atmosphere in which we live. But how does this equate to healing the nations, as the Bible asserts in Ezekiel?

I am thinking in terms of absorbing what is harmful and emitting what is good. And remember, these leaves are connected to plants which are positioned by a river of living, fresh water (Jesus is the source of such living water.). The plants (Christians) produce fruit (by the power of the Holy Spirit) which feeds those who are hungry spiritually. And they have leaves which absorb what is harmful and emit what is good, thus changing the atmosphere of any situation encountered.

Jesus said to love our enemies; not to return like for like but to forgive, to turn the other cheek, to go out of our way to serve even those who are ‘enemies’. By doing so, we absorb what is evil, and by the power of the Holy Spirit it is changed. 

If someone gives offense, I choose not to be offended. If someone insults me, I choose not to be insulted. I choose to return good for evil, changing the atmosphere and in my every encounter endeavouring to change the world.

The nations are in turmoil and violence, murder and mayhem pervade our news media. I choose to take that in and emit peace. In my one small corner, I choose to change the atmosphere from one of anger and violence to one of peace.

It may not change many nations, but it is a start.

Stress: Love is the key

It seems that our bodies are created to cope well with stress when we expect them to cope well with it. When we expect that stress is killing us, it does.

Just listened to a TED talk online about this subject. Very interesting. Mind over matter, she was saying. When we welcome the pounding heart, recognising it is preparing us to do our best; when we realize the accelerated breathing is taking more oxygen to our brains and enabling us to think better; when we see the other signs of stress such as sweaty palms as signals that we are prepared for what lies ahead, we take courage and do better and so does our health. 

And I thought stress killed you. And as long as I think that, it will. Mind over matter. 

One other point raised is that there is a stress hormone released nicknamed the cuddly hormone, or something like that, because it is active when we socialise during stress: when we either reach out to encourage and hug someone under stress, or someone does that for us, this hormone is released which has a health-inducing effect on the body. Studies showed that people who reach out in caring ways for others going through tough times have more of this hormone circulating in their bodies.

Humans like a blueprint for things, not least health and longevity, so knowing these things could motivate folk to add another point on their ‘to-do’ list: help out at a care home or do my shut-in neighbour’s shopping, not so much to be a help but in order to get more of that good hormone racing through my body. 

It’s kind of funny if it weren’t so sad. Because we’re missing the point: God created our bodies and this hormone didn’t just happen. Human beings live at their optimum when they love God and seek to live in his way – which is both to be brave and courageous but also to be caring and compassionate and reaching out. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and your neighbour as yourself. 

Love is the key to stress relief. Love is the key to right living. Love is the key.