“God paid a great price for you. So take great care of your body." ~ 1
Corinthians 6:20
Marin stepped carelessly along the
water’s edge glancing across the rippling sea toward the setting sun. Tangerine light emphasized the dancing waves
as they rushed, then died, upon the velvety shore. In their retreat, something got left behind
in the sand.
Stooping, Marin eyed the neck of a brass lantern poking through
the sand. She’d heard of lamps and
genies and, hoping that this would be such a vessel, eagerly extracted it out
and washed it in the shallow water.
"You’ve released me from my imprisonment!" he exclaimed,
"For this I’ll give you any automobile on earth.”
“Wait!” Marin questioned.
Aren’t Genie’s supposed to grant three wishes?”
“Only in fairytales,” he grinned. “But there’s one catch: you can never sell or
give it away. It’s the only car you’ll
ever own."
Hardly believing her luck, the woman thought long and hard
as the genie waited patiently for her answer. Eventually, she spoke.
“If this were the only car I’ll ever own,” Marin began, I’d
have to take particular care so that it’d remain my dream car forever. I’d reread the manual every week, rotate the
tires monthly; change the oil twice as often as required, and always park it
under cover from the sun.”
I’d drive as if my life depended on it: coming to complete
stops, never passing anyone, and driving 10 mph slower than the speed limit.
Marin stared hard at the genie, who appeared a little annoyed
at her sudden indecision. "No
thanks!" she eventually said. "I don’t need it: wish for something
for yourself." Then she continued
her stroll along the beach.
God is like the Genie.
He gives you but one mind and body – the same ones you’ll have at 30, 50
and 80. Your main asset in life is YOU. Invest wisely.
No matter your age, your future depends on your willingness
to invest in yourself now. Nurturing both
your mind and body allows you to have more to give: more energy, more
knowledge, more compassion, more ideas, greater strength and endurance.
Expand your mind, develop new skills, explore your creative
side. Learning new things and keeping
your mind active helps to grow and maintain your mental ability.
And take great care of your body. It’s like a well-oiled machine; if you care
for it in the way that you might maintain an expensive car, it’ll perform impressively
and last for a very long time. Give it
high quality fuel, rest and relax often, and use preventative maintenance. Get check-ups, take appropriate vitamins and
pay attention to any irregular or erratic behavior.
