The "overweight" part

So lots of you have already commented on the "overweight" part of my self-description. You don't think I'm overweight. You think I look fine. You don't see any problem with my weight.

You also don't have to button my pants.

Yesterday morning I wore a pair of pants I purchased recently, and let's just say there's a reason I chose a shirt with a tail to be worn on the outside of the pants rather than the inside of the pants. Last night I tried to put on a pair of shorts and could not get them fastened.

I celebrated by eating a strawberry-rhubarb pie that someone left in my garage yesterday. Thank you to whoever that was--it was just what I needed yesterday.

Today I got up and began running again. I used to do this. Last December I was up to running nearly three miles a day when I got sick with the flu, and I have not been back to the running since. This morning I ran and walked alternating 1/4 mile laps, and I both ran and walked one mile each.

This is more than just being heavy. This is about being a good steward of my body. How can I have any credibility to chastise the diabetics in my congregation who do not watch their diets when I am just getting larger and larger? How can I stand beside someone in my congregation who is trying to overcome addictive behavior when all I do is eat to relieve stress?

And so here we go. What's the goal? It's nothing numerical--it's just to be faithful and obedient to the God who has entrusted me to care for this body in a way that honors him.