How you do anything is how you do everything. There is much we can hide in life. Your home might look like a pigsty, for example. But your body is there for all to see. If you are overweight, out of shape, it shows. As does strength and leanness. They cannot be faked.
I would say of all the things in life this is the most overlooked because you cannot pretend to be fit and strong in the way you could fake wealth or even happiness. So most politely ignore it.
I think anyone who seriously wishes to develop as a person must first tackle the basics. Nutrition and exercise. It solves many problems, even mental health problems.
100%. I am a big advocate of physical training not merely for the physical benefits because it teaches you virtue. And as Christian men, we should be virtuous and consistent in all areas of our lives. We cannot talk about virtue and show vice in our physiques.
I think embracing virtue, as well as rejecting vice, is probably a superpower today. Porn, computer games, Netflix, cheap unhealthy junk food on demand. It is all there, temptation everywhere.
I agree. I've become increasingly focused on what Peter Attia calls "health span." I know God has numbered my days, so I've let go of the idea that my goal should be to increase my life span and focused instead on choosing exercises and workouts to help ensure I am healthy my entire life.
Absolutely. The fact that most of the Bible merely assumes that obviously God’s men are physically capable is very clear to me. I can’t think of any great men of the Bible who didn’t undergo physical hardships that your average dude today would not be able to endure, let alone remain useful in the midst of. {Yep. I’m gonna let that preposition hang there at the end of that sentence.}
I do wonder, though, how you think this principle should be applied in a woman’s life. Obviously her necessary daily tasks are not as arduous anymore either, so to what degree do you think she should introduce “unnecessary” physical stress on her body in order to strengthen it? The Proverbs 31 woman “maketh her arms strong,” but what principle should she apply that would tell her where the limit on that pursuit should be?
As an unmarried daughter of an aged father, with no brothers providing for the manually laborious needs of my home, this is especially prescient for me. If I see to my own care in those areas, even by necessity, am I making myself unattractive to the kind of masculine provider I’m looking for? I used to assume not, but at 29 years old, I’m starting to wonder.
That's a very good question Lydia, and I think the answer isn't without nuance. The limit on that pursuit, same as with men, should be at the point when it stops being done for the right reasons and starts being something you pursue out of vanity or selfish, impure reasons. I think the last point about you needing to take care of those areas, that just goes to show how important it is for a man to be present that can take that burden off you. It's similar to how men are forced to take on the feminine role if they don't have a woman to do it for them. We are complimentary, and it will always be better for a man and a woman to collaborate, precisely so that each one can focus on what they should. In your case, I don't think that performing that role by necessity would make you unattractive, as long as you don't let that necessity create a masculine character in you. As long as you remain feminine and remember that while you might have to do those tasks now, it shouldn't be your role and you don't let that masculinize you, I don't see why it would make you unattractive. Hope my answer was somewhat clear and it helps you. Will be praying for you, and don't lose hope, there's surely a good man out there who will be more than happy to take that load off your shoulders. God bless you!
How you do anything is how you do everything. There is much we can hide in life. Your home might look like a pigsty, for example. But your body is there for all to see. If you are overweight, out of shape, it shows. As does strength and leanness. They cannot be faked.
I would say of all the things in life this is the most overlooked because you cannot pretend to be fit and strong in the way you could fake wealth or even happiness. So most politely ignore it.
I think anyone who seriously wishes to develop as a person must first tackle the basics. Nutrition and exercise. It solves many problems, even mental health problems.
But it takes effort, and that is in short supply.
100%. I am a big advocate of physical training not merely for the physical benefits because it teaches you virtue. And as Christian men, we should be virtuous and consistent in all areas of our lives. We cannot talk about virtue and show vice in our physiques.
I think embracing virtue, as well as rejecting vice, is probably a superpower today. Porn, computer games, Netflix, cheap unhealthy junk food on demand. It is all there, temptation everywhere.
I agree. I've become increasingly focused on what Peter Attia calls "health span." I know God has numbered my days, so I've let go of the idea that my goal should be to increase my life span and focused instead on choosing exercises and workouts to help ensure I am healthy my entire life.
That's a good approach
Absolutely. The fact that most of the Bible merely assumes that obviously God’s men are physically capable is very clear to me. I can’t think of any great men of the Bible who didn’t undergo physical hardships that your average dude today would not be able to endure, let alone remain useful in the midst of. {Yep. I’m gonna let that preposition hang there at the end of that sentence.}
I do wonder, though, how you think this principle should be applied in a woman’s life. Obviously her necessary daily tasks are not as arduous anymore either, so to what degree do you think she should introduce “unnecessary” physical stress on her body in order to strengthen it? The Proverbs 31 woman “maketh her arms strong,” but what principle should she apply that would tell her where the limit on that pursuit should be?
As an unmarried daughter of an aged father, with no brothers providing for the manually laborious needs of my home, this is especially prescient for me. If I see to my own care in those areas, even by necessity, am I making myself unattractive to the kind of masculine provider I’m looking for? I used to assume not, but at 29 years old, I’m starting to wonder.
* “pertinent,” not “prescient”.
That's a very good question Lydia, and I think the answer isn't without nuance. The limit on that pursuit, same as with men, should be at the point when it stops being done for the right reasons and starts being something you pursue out of vanity or selfish, impure reasons. I think the last point about you needing to take care of those areas, that just goes to show how important it is for a man to be present that can take that burden off you. It's similar to how men are forced to take on the feminine role if they don't have a woman to do it for them. We are complimentary, and it will always be better for a man and a woman to collaborate, precisely so that each one can focus on what they should. In your case, I don't think that performing that role by necessity would make you unattractive, as long as you don't let that necessity create a masculine character in you. As long as you remain feminine and remember that while you might have to do those tasks now, it shouldn't be your role and you don't let that masculinize you, I don't see why it would make you unattractive. Hope my answer was somewhat clear and it helps you. Will be praying for you, and don't lose hope, there's surely a good man out there who will be more than happy to take that load off your shoulders. God bless you!
Thank you, sir. That’s very encouraging.
I agree COMPLETELY with every detail of this article. Thank you VERY much for writing and posting this. 🥇
Glad to hear that brother, thank you for reading!