Tapping into the Future

What a blessing to be able to look ahead at a mostly blank calendar year and affirm in advance that it will ALL be good. Come what may, blessings, tragedies, and petty problems alike, it can all be used to form me into the image of Christ.

If I make one New Year’s resolution each year, that’s what it is: that I might respond in a Christ-like way to every person and situation I face. Each December 31 I gladly watch the old year slip away with all my failures to accomplish my hope-filled resolution.

It’s a good thing I can’t see what lies ahead in 2011. If I knew, I would likely be tempted to fret or to manipulate events more to my liking. As it is, I can simply relax and let the story play out the way God intends, and only softly beg that it be relatively free of unwanted drama (head lice!) and suspense (financial uncertainty).

Last year I started the year like many of you with another familiar resolve, to get into better shape. I think I accomplished that, more or less, thanks to a homeopathic doctor in the city and Teresa Tapp. In spite of holiday splurging, I still weigh less today than I did a year ago.

If you haven’t heard of Teresa Tapp, go to her website for a sneak peek at the “Wellness Workout that Works.” I wouldn’t go so far as to imply you will lose two dress sizes in 4 weeks, as her book boasts, but I will agree that it is an ideal “anti-aging” workout that helps counter the daily stress of living cross-culturally. If you want one new workout idea for 2011, I can’t recommend T-Tapp highly enough.

For busy women serving cross-culturally in places where “going for a run” is frowned upon or laughed at, T-Tapp can be done in the privacy of your own bedroom. The best part is that it only takes 15 minutes a day to do the Basic Workout. There is a longer 40-minute Total Workout for the ambitious ones, but you will get results with the shorter version. Neither one requires special equipment or clothing.

Thanks to my friends on the Sonlight forum who inspired me to start “Tapping” about three and a half years ago. Since then quite a number of missionary friends here in southern Mexico have been doing this workout, too.

You may or may not see visible results, but I can guarantee that you will feel more energetic if you start Tapping in 2011. That’s my little New Year’s gift to you. See the sidebar for a special discount from Teresa Tapp and me.

IRL* Working out is only one of the ways I am being transformed.

De-Toxify or Die

Another of my New Year's resolutions was probably the same as many of yours. Not only am I getting my heart, soul and home in order, but I also intend to do something about this body, which is a mess after the holidays.

Notice I didn't say "get my body in shape."

That may be a (welcome!) side effect, but honestly, I will be content to simply be healthy, headache-free, and not so weary all the time. I hold no grandiose delusions of looking like a woman half my age.

Today, I am on Day Ten of a 21-day detox program. I'm eating only fruits and veggies, mostly raw, with a tiny bit of brown rice or lentils, along with nutritional protein shakes and liver/gut cleansing supplements. Sounds nasty, I admit, but I am feeling more energetic already.

Perhaps you've noticed that since living out of the U.S. we are being exposed to extra toxins in our food, water and environment. The longer you spend overseas, and the older you get, the more toxins accumulate in your body. Maybe you are dealing with fatigue and pain too.

Untreated, these toxins lead to far worse symptoms than chronic headaches and snarky attitudes that slip out when I'm not feeling well. (Yes, I've been known to scream at my poor children, "LEAVE ME ALONE! I'm trying to have my devotions!") For the sake of the Gospel, it's time to start looking for the physical roots of some of my struggles. My family and friends want to enjoy me for many years to come.

For that matter, they just want me to enjoy them, and not be so tired and crotchety.

There is a perfectly awful book I just read--Detoxify or Die, by Sherry A. Rogers, M.D. I was blessed to find an alternative doctor in Ohio who tested and treated me last summer, and gave me a serious wake-up call regarding my risk factors for heart disease and colon cancer.

My sister is a breast cancer survivor, and frankly, this was always a major concern of mine. The doctor tells me I have no medical markers for breast cancer. But, I do need to watch my weight.
Since doing my first detox regime last summer, my blood pressure has normalized and my thyroid is kicking back in. Best of all my mood swings were drastically reduced.

I'd mention the pounds I lost, but sadly I found them again. Like decluttering, dieting is a lifelong venture. No one said this is going to be easy, but I sure would like a taco or enchilada right now.

I'm praying for each of you today, that you find health for your body and spirit this year. Bless you, my new friends.

IRL*Day 10 of a lifelong process of detoxification.