Growing Like Jesus: Sight and Insight

By Pat Magness

(Pat Magness was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Magness is professor of humanities and English at Milligan College in Tennessee and a member of the Publishing Committee at Standard Publishing.)

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An old story tells us that as Francis of Assisi neared his death, he apologized to his body””using the endearing term “Brother Donkey”””for working it so hard and so long with little rest or appreciation. Like many people in ministry, and to an extreme degree, Francis devoted his life fervently to God”s kingdom while neglecting the very body that made his ministry possible.

His choice of asceticism is not a popular lifestyle today, but his pattern of service to God and fellow human beings, as well as his pursuit of spiritual wisdom rather than physical goals, characterize many Christians today. We are taught and we teach others to put God first, and for many of us that means neglecting the health of our bodies.

This spring I was given a dramatic lesson in the results of overworking the body, of insufficient attention to “growing in stature.” One day I noticed a blur, a smudge, in my vision. After cleaning the windshield, my sunglasses, and my reading glasses didn”t solve the problem, I finally had to admit the smudge was somehow in my eye. It took several hours with a variety of doctors until it became clear the vision problem was a result of undiagnosed high blood pressure. My best hope for better vision was an immediate lowering of my blood pressure.

What I Did

I changed my eating habits dramatically and immediately. I have become a bit obsessive about low sodium, discovering””among many other things””that the grilled chicken salads I was eating for good health contained more sodium than the french fries I avoided. I would have told you I was always a healthy eater and always committed to exercise. But now I regard exercise as a prescription to be honored rather than a theoretical commitment neglected for more important things, and I really do eat healthy food instead of merely trying to do so.

I am also growing in appreciation for my body and the infinite complexity of its myriad parts. I remember studying the structure of the human eye, with parts like the lens, cornea, retina, iris, and pupil. It seemed straightforward to me, like a simple camera. But sitting in the office of the retina specialist, looking at colorful illustrations of the eye showing hundreds of interrelated parts, then looking at digital images of my own retina and its laced network of blood vessels, I was overwhelmed with the nearly incredible fact that people can see at all. Having a problem with vision doesn”t really surprise me””the surprising thing is for most people, most of the time, this amazing organ, the eye, actually functions so well.

It is impossible to ignore my problem, because it is a vision problem. From the moment I wake up, I see the world through a blur. My own “Brother Donkey” has chosen a dramatic way to call attention to its needs. As a result I am “growing in stature”””not literally growing taller, but growing in the proper care for my body.

Just as the parts of the eye are intricately interconnected, and even as blood pressure can directly affect vision, so the various types of growth are deeply intertwined. I may be thinking primarily about the health of my body and “growing in stature,” but at the same time, I have been pushed to grow in wisdom and in my relationship with God.

I have been growing in wisdom as I learn about the functioning of the eye and the ins and outs of a healthy diet. And I can truly say I have been growing closer to God. The phrase “pray without ceasing,” for example, has become more meaningful to me as I have fervently prayed for the restoration of my sight. I have sought and received the prayers of the church, and I have had to put complete trust in God.

What God Can Do

It is true I can lower salt intake and increase exercise, but there is no way I can control the healing, rate of healing, or lack of healing in my eye. What I can do is make my request known to God and then rest in God”s love.

As I pray, I am reaching the point where I can almost thank God for the smudge in my eye because it has been a call to action for other people in my life too. My husband is now taking the low salt diet very seriously and joins me in those daily walks. My sister, too, was inspired to take her blood pressure and join in the low-sodium campaign. We encourage each other in healthy choices, growing in wisdom and stature.

This swift kick from “Brother Donkey” has certainly been painful, but maybe it had to be harsh to get my attention and remind me to care for my body in a way that honors God and his creation.