Today, we are continuing our sermon series called Momentum for Life. In this series, we are talking about how to build into our life healthy practices that help us build a positive momentum of faith. We have covered things like making time for God a priority. We have talked about the importance of relationships. Today, we are going to talk about taking care of our bodies. Does it ever feel to you like something isn’t quite right?

It seems that one day Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Watson, went camping. As the night wore on, Sherlock woke up, leaned over, and asked Watson, “What do you see?”

Watson responded, “Sherlock, I see the North Star, which has helped guide us to this spot. Beyond that I see the Big Dipper and the tail of Orion. I can also make out the edges of the Milky Way and know that there are universes expanding beyond that.”

As Watson was about to continue his elaborate explanation, suddenly Sherlock elbowed him and hissed, “Watson, don’t you see it? Someone has stolen our tent!”

Sherlock knew something wasn’t quite right. Watson didn’t quite get it. He just got caught up in the beauty of the night sky. Do you ever feel as if something isn’t quite right? What do you do about it?

We live in a world where something’s just aren’t right. We live in a society where obesity is growing to become a national health problem. We live in a State that has one of the highest rates of obesity and alcohol use. We live in a world where we have bought into the sixties notion that if it feels good we should do it. And we are. And it is killing us.

You might be sitting here right now and saying, “So what Scott. What does my health have to do with my faith?” And that is a good question. I may not be able to answer that question for you. But I can certainly answer it for me. And my answer can begin with a part of our scripture for tonight. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

It takes discipline to live a life of faith. It takes discipline to take care of us. But we live in a world that isn’t too big on discipline. Many of you have already heard about how I have spent most of my adult life struggling with my weight.

It’s not that I don’t know what to eat or how to exercise to stay healthy. It is that I don’t always practice it. I sometimes am more driven by my passion and my desires than I am to be healthy. And that isn’t good. Because it doesn’t do me any favors. Nor does it honor God.

In 1999, something wasn’t right in my life. I was regularly having migraine headaches. I was having trouble breathing. I was often tired and worn out. I was having chest pains.

I went to the doctor for a physical. He looked at me and said, “Scott, you are killing yourself. Unless you lose weight, in ten years, if you are still alive, you run the risk of several things happening. You will either have a heart attack that could take your life. Or you will run the risk of a debilitating stroke. Or you will be the fourth generation in your family to develop diabetes. Or you will develop one of the cancers related to obesity.”

I looked at him, knowing that something had to change. I knew I needed to take better care of myself. Something wasn’t right.

I set out to lose weight and take better care of myself. I lost seventy pounds with the help of a doctor and a weight loss program. I moved and went through a lot of stressful times. Unfortunately, I gained much of that weight back.

You might be wondering, what went wrong? I forgot what helped me be successful. I gave in to my passions. I gave in to my cravings. I let the discipline go out the window. What about you? Are you taking care of yourself? If so, what is helping you take care of you?

Our Scripture goes on to say, So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

What I have learned the hard way, is that if I am going to be healthy, spiritually and physically, I can’t do it by myself. I need people around me who are willing to hold me accountable.

Since the first of the year, I have rejoined Weight Watchers. I have lost 15 lbs. And I am working towards 20 lbs off. I have come to realize that if I am going to be healthy, I am going to have to make God a priority for my life. Not just for my spiritual life. But also for my eating and my exercising.

I am in the process of building into my life groups that I can be accountable to for eating and exercising. You see, what this scripture really reminds me is that we don’t have to go through life on our own. We need each other to be held accountable and to stay healthy. Being held accountable is really about choosing to live in community with others. And that is what raises our chance for success. That is what helps us experience healing in our life.

There was once a woman, whose happiness was shattered by the loss of her brother, a good man, dearly loved. Torn by anguish, she kept asking God, “Why?” But hearing only silence, she set out in search of an answer. She had not gone far when she came upon an old man sitting on a bench. He was weeping. He said, “I have suffered a great loss. I am a painter, and I have lost my eyesight.” He too, was seeking an answer to the question, “Why?” The woman invited him to join her and, taking him by the arm, they trudged down the road.

Soon they overtook a young man walking aimlessly. He had lost his wife, the source of his joy, to another man. He joined in the search of an answer to the “why” question. Shortly they came upon a young woman weeping on her front doorstep. She had lost her child. She, too, joined them. Nowhere could they find an answer.

Suddenly they came upon Jesus Christ. Each confronted him with their questions, but Jesus gave no answer. Instead, he began to cry and said, “I am bearing the burden of a woman who has lost her brother, a girl whose baby has died, a painter who has lost his eyesight, and a young man who has lost a love in which he delighted.” As he spoke, the four moved closer, and they embraced each other. And they grasped Jesus’ hands.

Jesus spoke again, “My kingdom is the Kingdom of the heart. I cannot prevent pain. I can only heal it.”

“How?” asked the woman.

“By sharing it,” he said. And then he was gone. And the four? They were left standing, holding each other.

I like that story. Here is what I know. God loves me. God loves you. God wants us to experience healing in our lives. We won’t experience it on our own, in our own strength.

We only experience healing and wholeness when we trust God with our lives. We only experience healing and wholeness in our lives when we help each other lean on God. We only experience healing and wholeness when we give ourselves to God and each other. Are you willing to do that?

May God help us.

Amen