“The Spring Keeper”

Last Sunday, our pastor included a wonderful illustration which I also found epitomizes our relationship between Christianity and nutrition.

The illustration by the late chaplain of the US Senate, Peter Marshall, was entitled, “The Keeper of the Spring.” Perhaps you’ve heard it before. Here’s the Cliff note version of it:

“It seems a spring at the top of an Austrian mountain provided water to a charming, picturesque village down below. The village council hardly saw the keeper and began questioning why they were paying for a service when they never saw the benefit. So they fired the Spring Keeper.

As time went on, leaves and debris began to clog the source of the well. Then downstream, leaves, twigs and debris muddied the water. It smelled and tasted badly. Tourists stopped coming, restaurants served less tasty food and the town lost its beauty and charm.

Finally the council realized its mistake and rehired the Spring Keeper, who restored the beauty of the stream at its source, thus restoring the village’s productivity.”

Do we always see the results of eating healthily?

I’d surmise that without clean, refreshing water the village became toxic in body and soul, losing its charm along with the tourist industry. Who wants to be around grumpy, toxic people?

I’ve written many posts on the benefits of water (please find via search engine) so that’s not the subject of my post today. Rather I believe my point is to encourage us to remain close to the source of true health.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Cleaning up the lake from the bottom only cleaned symptoms. Problems continued. Cleanliness had to begin at the source of the stream.

There are many people who believe fancy box diets or diet plans like Paleo and Keto will restore clean living. Sorry, that’s attempting to clean up symptoms, not the base of one’s health. Why psychologically and physiologically one eats. This only muddies the body with a diet one can’t exist on forever!

Our Lord wants us to honor him. How can we do that with a mouth that professes faith but throws trash into our earthly temple? “Be holy for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 pleads. One wouldn’t throw trash on the floor of Jerusalem’s temple – so why do we trash our earthly one?

Clean up your unhealthy lifestyle at the source and you’ll naturally become happier, healthier and energetic. Even though it’s fine to eat anything in moderation, please strive to eat more wholesome healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, herbs, seeds and nuts. Consume only a small amount of meat daily, (6 ounces) and your body will remain more alkaline, less acidic.

Change your mindset at the source to become a more positive, happier individual. Others want to be around you. Gather encouraging friends around you, read inspirational books.

Fresh air improves the mind and circulation. If you haven’t exercised, get busy and just do it! Find something you enjoy, walking, dancing, biking, etc.

Don’t focus on what you don’t have, rather breathe deeply and count your blessings. Relaxation restores peace of mind and positive attitudes.

Ultimately we are simply passing through this world until we see God’s Face. When you feel life is drowning you in heartache and tribulation, get back to the living source of joy and happiness: Christ.

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)