Maggie's Farm

I realize that there are several smokers on Maggie's and so my remarks will fall on deaf ears but:

The guy is free to do as he chooses, but I don't want him on my health plan. He can ruin his own health and swear all he likes, but I don't want my premiums raised to pay for it. There are so many health conditions that are out of our control, but people who wilfully detroy their own health usualy expect other people to pay for their medical care when the chickens come home to roost.

And, yes, I am influenced by the fact that he is no gentleman. His language destroys what sympathy I started out with for his exasperation with the nanny state.

Also, perhaps because I have seen beloved family members suffering from inherited illnesses they did not cause, despite all their efforts to work for health, search after treatment, I am troubled that this fellow seems to have forgotten something: we are not our own. We are created by God, for His purposes, not our own. Our bodies are on loan from God. Fat, skinny, healty, unhealthy, they are all His. Temples of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to tend them well. Not for our own sake, but for His. The reason why one doesn't gorge oneself silly on chocolates, or drink oneself to death, or stay anorexic. To destroy or worship our bodies idolatrously are alike hateful to God. Because we are made to be useful to God and his people here on earth. So, THeo's girls delight you all. Fine. If their preening cheers you all up, well and good. Whatever floats your boat. A hardworking laborer's muscles build a building and feed his family. A sniper's eyesight and reflexes serve his country. A compassionate therapist's listening skills soothe an agitated patient. An inspiring preacher turns the apathetic to repentance. All that we are, all that we do, matter only so far as they help or hinder God's work here on earth. It isn't all about us. It never is.

I would like to see that guy put as much of his energy into exhorting some aimless kids to find a trade, and helping them stick to it, as profanity about his right to smoke.

Sorry to sound self-righteous, jappy. Not feeling like I know much of anything these days...But I do stand by my belief that we are not our own. We belong to God, and to the people who love us.

I have no use for government meddling in health habits, despise John Edwards, etc. But I do think that most of us will take better care of our health if we remember all the people who love us, who need and want us around.

And we should. A heart attack that kills you young may be a relatively easy way to go for the victim, and cheap for an insurance company, but is a tragedy for the family. I oughta know: lost my baby brother to one. After years of me pleading in vain with him to do all the boring things like lose weight, stop smoking, take Lipitor, exercise, rest, etc. I am a loudmouth and a jerk too often, but I can't wax philosophical about any family losing someone in their prime as we did. Rugged individualism is okay up to a point, but GOd did not create us to live alone. He set the solitary in families, in a mesh of rights and responsibilities. Donne reminds us that no man is an island...

I've buried too many druggy and alcoholic friends too young, comforted too many grieving relatives left behind, to go along with anyone who says it only hurts them, so they can do whatever they like to their body. It hurts friends and family who love them.

In the same way, I'll fight anyone who tries to promote assisted suicide.

But with my clumsy opinions, and friendly pleas alone. No government programs or laws.

Am just a miserable sinner myself, no example to anyone, but I do believe that life is a precious gift, not to be squandered. So I don't off myself when life feels unbearable (miles to go, and hundreds of thousands in college tuition to earn before my parental responsibilities are done).

My family doctor unfailingly gets a snarl from me when he sanctimoniously tells me to "eat less and exercise more" after I wail about my middle aged spread, so Luther M. I can relate to your frustration at being told what to do. It doesn't help that said MD is healthy, athletic, skinny and far more energetic despite being almost ten years older than me! But when I get over my annoyance, I realize that he is right, and that only an enabler would tell me to do what I liked, a little fat never hurt anyone.

So off to the treadmill. ANd no kiddie-made brownies for me tonight.

Maybe it is as simple as this: I love my children and they me. I want to live a long time so I can see grandchildren and help raise them. That's worth a certain amount of self-denial and putting up with sanctimonious nagging from people who mean well, who care about me, who want me to take better care of my health. I think. We do for love what we would not do under compulsion. Why government should stay out of all this. But a little persistent nagging by friends and family keep us on the straight and narrow.

So I think the fat guy needs his buddies to drag him out to the gym more often, and drink the light beer....

These are my idea of salt of the earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T05ku3MhJ8E (cuter too...)

Sorry if I wrote clumsily: I meant that I believe that God loves every one whatever they look like, or however sick or healthy they are. He loves us whatever kind of bodies we have (and a good thing for me if I am right). But that He expects us to care lovingly for them. The BIble is full of metaphors for us as the Lord's tenants. Are we good or wicked tenants? Do we paint and polish and clean the place or do we tear the place apart and beat up the landlord's kid when he comes around to collect the rent?

I mean, I admit that I wish God had made me to look more like the Maid of the Marsh, but presumably He had some purpose in mind when he made me more like the ugly sister of the Maid to whom all the guys confide their lusting after the Maid!

THe BIble is full of stories of God acting very unfairly, playing favorites, doling out advantages most unequally as we see it. And we all have to live with similar disparities today. But whatever He has given us, he expects us to take care of and give an accounting for.

Maybe a domestic example of my point: two of my kids have very different rooms. Plusses and minusses to each basic room. We are very broke, and the furniture is a mix of orange crate, thrift shop and some carefully saved family antiques, plus whatever the kids themselves have improvised. One room is immaculate, cheerful, clean, orderly and full of color and texture. Everyone in the family gravitates there. THe other rom has cups of cocoa and spoons and soda cans and old laundry all over the floor, piles of books and papers spilling over every surface, dust, cathair, and little fresh air. I make furtive trips in there with trash bags and try to clear a path periodically. It is a nicer room to start with, but such a disheartening mess that my spirits fall just opening the door.

How you care for what you have been given makes all the difference in the world....

LM, your good points are not as hidden as you think. I always learn from what you write. You are a gentleman and a scholar, and my ranting tonight is probably simple venting and pointless waffling, howling at the moon missing my baby bro. I have been a holy terror to all my friends in the time since.. Not wanting to lose them too. Dumb. More annoying than anything probably...

Oops., LM..as my kids frequently howl at me "Mom, you can't say that, someone will take it the wrong way..." Not meant inappropriately, please excuse.