Body Imagining

Bodies of water don't make comparisons.

Nor do bodies of creatures in the animal kingdom.

But humans in general, and those in recovery from disordered eating specifically, find that body image (how one sees oneself compared to society's standards) is a consuming challenge.

Body image is described in four aspects,

each of which require revision for lasting change:

*Perceptual (how we see ourselves),

*Affective (how we feel about the way we look),

*Cognitive (thoughts and beliefs we feel about our bodies)

*Behavioral (actions taken in relation to the way we look).

In the midst of body image work,

a helpful reminder can include,

"Comparison is the thief of joy!" (Theodore Roosevelt)...

but the thief is sly and ever-present,

influencing self-talk, choices and actions.

And while temporary motivation

can come from contemporary quotes such as,

"Compare yourself to who you were yesterday,"

we may not have a tangible target

of the person we wish to be.

And even though science reminds us

that we humans are 99.9% similar genetically

with other humans,

we still seem to focus on the .1% of that which makes us

"different, separate, other or feared"

versus

connecting and coming together

over our abundant commonalities.

Even our inner parts are created to work in harmony.

When they don't, something goes terribly wrong:

this is disease.

this is cancer.

this is illness.

this is death.

And so the parts of our society

which refuse to consider the other:

this is disenfranchisement.

this is casting others aside.

this is injury.

this is leaving others to die.

Body Imagining acknowledges that

when one hurts,

all are hurt.

Body Imagining realizes that

hurt can come from

what was said,

what was done,

or in what failed to be said or done.

Body Imagining takes into account

that healing is a process of

renewal,

restoration,

and re-wording unhelpful and untrue self-talk.

Imagine a body...

not one for itself,

but a working piece

for the peace of a Greater Whole?

"Let us make man in Our Image." Genesis 1:26

Imagine: all people are 100% made in the image of the Creator!

Perceptual: "I am truly made in the Image of God."

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

Imagine: our uniqueness is by Divine Design!

Affective:

"I am chosen and created to be specifically and uniquely made the way I am."

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Imagine: physical appearance is insignificant in God's sight!

Affective:

"It doesn't matter how others see me, because God seeks the beauty of my heart."

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Imagine: humans are created to do good things God has pre-planned!"

Perceptual, Affective and Behavioral:

"I am a masterpiece, a work of art, created to do specific goodness in this lifetime!"

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Imagine: our bodies are holy vessels and belong to God.

Peceptual and Cognitve and Behavioral:

"My body is a gift and a carrier for the treasure of the Holy Spirit, so I will honor my body and the bodies of others."

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." Matthew 28:19

Imagine, 100% of people are called to be and to make disciples to share the Good News.

Behavioral:

"I am called to unite my human brothers and sisters in goodness."

"Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being."

Imagine, 100% of humans are to care for the others around us!

Behavioral:

"I am called to care for others, and I can do this when I care for myself."

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." Romans 12:4*

Imagine, Christ's Body involves 100% of us!

Cognitive:

"My body's purpose is to join with the human family to glorify God."

Imagine the human family as "the original place of witness

and the foundation for all further testimony concerning the Word of Life and the completion of human joy." -Father Gary Caster in "Mary, in her Own Words."

Imagine also a body...

tortured and tormented,

mocked and maimed,

left. to. die.

And His Promise to us at the last supper?

"This is My Body Given Up for You." Luke 22:19

And His Plea to all of us from the cross,

in His words to his mother and the beloved disciple? In essence -

"Take Care of Each Other." John 19:26

And His last breath as a model for our last breath?

"Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit." Luke 23:46

A powerful profession might include:

"I am part of Christ's Body,

As You are,

As is Each. Human. Being." Period.

No categories.

No classifications.

No caveats.

No comparisons.

No cuts from this team.

This is namaste: "The spirit in me honors the spirit in you."

This is "Peace be with you."

And call it church or congregation or crowd,

it's just another name for All Of Us,

which means a Body of Believers

joined and welcomed into the Greater Body.

A true church accepts All bodies,

or is not truly a church.

A true church protects All bodies,

or does not have the right to be called the House of God.

A true church loves all people, in all ways, at all times,

or it takes Christ's name in vain.

Then All of Us

can live like All Life matters

and strive to protect All Matters of life

and stretch All our hearts out wide

to imitate

the outstretched arms

of the welcoming cross.

For All.

Be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create. Isaiah 65:18

Rejoice in being YOU!