I believe in sacred spaces. I try to make a distinction between how I act in the the church sanctuary from the rest of the building. I visit hospital chapels. I could spend hours looking at religious relics in the museum. I dream of visiting the Vatican, and the Wailing Wall. I honor holy places.

With one exception… and one could argue that it is the most holy place of all, my temple, my body. I treat my own body in ways that I would never treat a holy place. I disrespect and disregard it. I fill it with junk and make very little effort to maintain it. I see it or feel it in disrepair, and I ignore the signs.

When Notre Dame was on fire, I felt a deep sense of sadness. When my own body was inflamed, I ignored it and kept on pushing.

This quarantine has been tough on my body. I carry stress in my shoulders and in my hips. I have gained weight, sustained a couple of injuries, and generally not felt well. I have said yes when I definitely should have said no. I have contorted my whole self to fit into the boxes of other people’s expectations, and I am paying the price with both my mental and physical health.

I do not think I’m alone. I’m not the only one who has gained a few extra pounds in quarantine, or who has pushed myself beyond my limits.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 says “19 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; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

I have not been honoring God with my body. It doesn’t matter how many online church services I have attended. It doesn’t matter how many scripture-based blogs I have written. God is not impressed with my fascination of stained-glass windows and sturdy altars with golden inlays. My love for man-made temples means nothing if I don’t honor the temple He made especially for me.

I challenge you today to honor your own temple. It is the place where God resides.

Photo by Adrien Olichon from Pexels