Align

Align

Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.

“OH, KATE. I think I’m broken.” My answer came out as a chuckle ending in a groan in response to her cheery greeting asking how I was that morning. A misaligned rib was jabbing at what felt like my lung as I shifted on her adjusting table, trying to find a comfortable spot.

One of my dearest friends is a chiropractor, and her wisdom and skill have been invaluable, helping me sort out pregnancy-induced sciatica as well as some otherwise mysterious health issues with a family member. This time, I’d been tossed off a ski tube in dramatic fashion, and she clucked over me as she realigned what must have been every rib along the right side of my body.

One of the many things Kate has taught me is that our bodies are amazing, miraculous creations, especially when our vertebrae are aligned and our nervous systems are functioning as God intended. It’s amazing how twisted up nerves can cause problems in every area of our body, creating weaknesses for disease to infiltrate that wouldn’t otherwise exist and, in turn, providing better than usual immunity when we untwist them, allowing them to send and receive signals, uninhibited.

The more I learn about how our bodies work when our spines are aligned, the more I am reminded of the critical importance of cultivating spiritual health. We need to stay aligned with God to function at our very best. Aligning ourselves spiritually means we listen and obey, repent and seek forgiveness, growing deeper in our faith rather than staying in one spot for too long, becoming stagnant. We are called to an active, living faith that coexists alongside every part of our day, even in the mundane ordinary.

Just as I carve out time to see Kate to make sure my nervous system is aligned, I need to examine what I’m doing well (or not) from time to time with God, correcting my spiritual course. Alignment requires intentionality and work, but the reward is priceless.

Lord, show us where we need to realign ourselves with you, getting back on track so that we might be the best version of ourselves and the best examples of you that we can be. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Consider where you need to be better aligned with God in your thoughts, words, or actions. Make one change today.