Perhaps some of you are like me, prone to experiencing a period of lower energy mid-to-late afternoon. There are options for how to handle this, some which are more appealing, and some which are more practical. For me, taking a nap just doesn’t fit in with my schedule (as appealing as it may be). Usually, my solution is to have another cup of coffee, which gives me another boost of caffeine while also requiring me to get up from my desk and change scenery, at least for as long as it takes to brew a cup and then get back to my office. However, another option, and one that I intend to utilize more, is to step away from the sedentary desk and engage in some vigorous activity that gets the heart rate up. This could be as simple as a walk down the street, or an actual workout session with cardio and weights.
Physiological reasons aside, does it strike anyone else as odd that perhaps the healthiest approach to dealing with a period of low-energy is to engage in something that requires lots of energy? To go from yawning because your body wants more oxygen, to using muscles in a way that demands even more oxygen? Yet the end result is a passing of that low-energy moment, with some physical activity that is ultimately better for our bodies.
Sometimes the best solution to a situation is the one that seems counterintuitive or, at the very least, counter-instinctual. The more we reflect on the human condition, the more that we can see it make sense. We naturally gravitate towards things that are easy, putting off or avoiding altogether those things that we think will be harder. We develop our own sense of what is right and wrong, based upon what our minds and our bodies tell us, unaware that we have been conditioning our bodies to promote or desire things that ultimately aren’t helpful. After all, a nap can be so much more fun than exercising. It certainly takes less energy, and we expect sleep to refresh us. It seldom occurs to us that too much rest can have negative effects, and that our problem with sleeping at night might be because we rested too much during the day.
We carry this into our relationships with others as well, whether it be how we relate to our family and friends, or even to those we don’t know or don’t necessarily want to be around. When someone harms us or insults us in some way, we have been programmed to believe that the best approach is to either respond in kind (fight) or run away (flight). Yet, while that may be the easiest way to address the immediate situation, it does nothing to resolve the underlying issue with the relationship that led to the negative interaction.
Jesus addressed this when he declared “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:43-44). The appropriate solution, according to Jesus, is to respond in the way that is better for the entire body, promoting healing instead of ongoing enmity. Doing essentially the opposite of what we have been taught, because we’ve been looking for short-term satisfaction at the expense of long-term health.
Friends, challenge the notion that the easiest way is the best way. Often, the easiest way is easy because it doesn’t address deeper issues that have lasting implications. Be willing to do the harder things when they are the better way. It may take extra energy initially, but you may find that it pays off in ways that will make life so much more pleasant in the long-term.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron