“Your eyes are the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body is illumined. But when they are unhealthy, your body is in darkness. Be sure, then, that the light you have isn’t actually darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp enlightens you with its rays.”
Luke 11:34-36
Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:
- In this passage from the Gospel Writer called Luke, Jesus speaks in double entendre. While he reminds us to keep our eyes open so we’re aware of our choices, behavior and surroundings, on a deeper level, he encourages us to honor our inner light—our insight, or intuition.
- To be in darkness spiritually means to overlook or ignore our intuition, the enlightenment which can guide our life, if we pay attention.
- Our body is home to our soul. So, as we nurture our body, we also nurture our soul. This is why, for example, we may feel discouraged with ourselves if we heal slowly, and why we feel happy after a great workout or spa treatment.
- Few of us want to be in the dark about our bodies, as proven by thousands of pages of advice on the body’s intuitive nature. In fact, the fields of anatomy, medicine, neuroscience, and physiology, now recognize intuition as an important way to understand our body’s needs.
- Demonstration is the evidence we can see of what does or doesn’t work in our lives. If we look at ourselves with “ugly eyes,” as one of my teachers used to say, we see only lumps, bumps, and cellulite. Or we may call ourselves “sickly,” or believe that we’re broken or useless. But if we look at ourselves with loving eyes, we see our inner beauty reflecting outward. We know that even if we’re sick, the truth of us is radiant and whole. We recognize that our inner light can illumine our physical appearance as well as guide our life.
- Furthermore, we don’t all demonstrate health the same way, though we can know intuitively what’s healthiest for us. For example, dairy products are considered a prime source of calcium, but if we’re vegan or lactose-intolerant, we can meet our calcium need differently. Likewise, running may hurt our knees, but we can swim to our heart’s content.
- Your intuition illumines distinct aspects of your well-being. Specifically, it can guide your decisions about diet, exercise, and medical care. As you become more attuned to your body’s intuition, you can be fully engaged in your own health care, so you’re the expert about what’s best for you.
- If you doubt what your body needs, stay open to your intuition. As a 2006 University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing article advises: “When your intuition continues to call you, give up pre-conceived ideas of the specifics and surrender to the meaning behind its advice. Intuition will take care of the details.”
Contemplation Questions:
As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:
- Which parts of my body do I love?
- Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and tune into your body. Take an inventory, like a body scan. Start at your toes and gently work up to the top of your head. If you feel courageous, do the scan naked, in front of a mirror.
- Then, list, word map, or illustrate the parts of your body you love.
- Which parts of my body don’t I love?
- Using the same process as before, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and tune into your body. Take an inventory, like a body scan. Start at your toes and gently work up to the top of your head. If you feel courageous, do the scan naked, in front of a mirror.
- Then, list, word map, or illustrate the parts of your body you don’t love.
- When I contemplate what I do and don’t love about my body, how am I:
- judging myself by someone else’s standards of beauty, fitness, or health?
- List word map, or illustrate the ways.
- honoring my intuition, even if others disagree?
- List, word map, or illustrate the ways.
- judging myself by someone else’s standards of beauty, fitness, or health?
- Which parts of my body are strong and healthy?
- List, word map, or illustrate those parts.
- Which parts of my body need healing?
- List, word map, or illustrate those parts.
- How have I been in the dark about my body’s intuition and what it wants me to know?
- List, word map, or illustrate any intuitive messages you previously missed, but notice now.
- When I contemplate how powerful and life-affirming my body’s intuition is, what are at least three (3) ways I can enhance my physical well-being and appreciate myself more?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as you can. If you like, create categories for specifics such as rest, meals, and exercise.
Use this devotional frequently to stay attuned to your body’s intuition. Remember that you’re much more than your weight or blood pressure reading. Be kind, and speak lovingly to and about yourself. Know that loving yourself isn’t only adoration. It’s treating yourself with compassion, respect, and patience, so you fully trust the divine light within you.
© 2023 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.
Photo by kiboka from Shutterstock.
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