alternative community
against culture’s flow
distinctives
offensive to distorters
shaping community
ordinary life
extraordinary life
blending each into all
without losing us
learning to dance the interplay

community of deeds
truth
in lived flesh
etching channels of habit
in communal character
one to another
another to one
all to all

community of friends
heart yearning for heart
choosing past the distractions
choosing past the brokenness
binding hearts to hearts
in intricate variation
reflecting him in us

Informant
Dissident Discipleship: A Spirituality of Self-Surrender, Love of God, and Love of Neighbor

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I have discovered an unfortunate truth: If I do not make time to think well, I will not think well.  The other half of the unfortunate truth is that, as a doctoral student, thinking well is a big part of my job description.

Even with a fairly well-stocked tool box, courtesy of Issler, Sire, Adler, and others, making time remains the weak link.  As I work through my hurdles, I have come up with a few personal guidelines.

Guidelines for Making Temporal Space

• High quality intellectual work needs time and energy, so must be planned accordingly.
• Intellectual work must fit daily life.
• Examine daily schedule and plot normal routine in hours (no larger).
• Look for open spots and claim them.
• Look for waste: if there is time for television, online games, or social media, there is time for intellectual work.
• Leave room for play, relationship, and rest.
• Intellectual work must fit one’s chronotype.  (I took a test and scored as a definite morning person; this influences when I can do my best intellectual work.)
• Intellectual work must fit the type of work that needs to be done.
  • Scan, quick, and study reading require ample blocks of concentration.
  • High quality, creative thinking requires relaxation.
  • Thoughtful, clear writing requires regular scheduled periods with bum in the seat and fingers at the keyboard.

Here in the second semester of a doctoral program, there is no time like the present for me to be intentional about making time for intellectual work.

While intellectual work is clearly part of my calling, one does not need to be a doctoral student or other academic to make the intellect a priority: God gave each of us a mind and we must put it to the best use possible.

My two major hurdles are a full schedule and time wasters.

What is hindering your intellectual work?

This time last year, Who in the World Are We? was on another platform and focused on a narrow understanding of the Christian community.  Much has changed since then: The blog has moved to Wordpress and my understanding of Christian community how considers four aspects of health in the world: spiritual, intellectual, physical, and affective.

Being read this week last year

• An Ecclesiological Perspective
• Open Letter to the Sanctify! Dreaming Team
• Mission without the Sacred-Secular Dichotomy
• Identity of Church: by divine definition or human decision?
• Body-Building-Bride: Context
• Being the Loyal Opposition in the Institutional Church
• Kierkegaard on Knowing God

This year, things are quite different and I wonder if depth has been sacrificed for breadth (still, I prefer the breadth).  I continue to seek a balance of breadth and depth and struggle to remain focused on community (rather than falling into the trap of individualism).

• If you are a Christian, what trips you up in ordinary life?
• If you are not a Christian, what do you think Christians need to figure out?

I am stuck.  Despite the continuing journey of eating primal, moderate walking each day, periodic strength training, and more sleep, inflammation, body composition and cholesterol continue as health issues.  All three are systemic and not easily solved.  Living in the suburbs of Los Angeles and running a full schedule does not help, for I fear I am adapting to the wrong things.

Since inflammation causes other, critical problems, it has highest priority.  From what I have read at Dr. Ayers’ site and heard on Underground Wellness, leaky gut may be behind my inflammation.  Four symptoms are most noticeable: swelling in the calves, crud-filled lungs, periodic acne, and perpetual sinus congestion.  These have reduced on primal, but remain a problem.

Body composition is the second priority, as excess body fat messes with the insulin response that underlies cholesterol imbalance.  It seems my body composition is stuck: I have made no new belt holes and have no need for smaller pants.  Three possible causes come to mind.

1. Fat set point may be an issue.
2. My nutrition may be other than what I believe.
3. Movement is too minimal and/or static.

Under the assumption that Sisson is correct—that nutrition is 80% of body composition–macro proportions are critical.  Current calorie proportions are around 60% from fat, 10% from carbs, and 30% from protein.  I continue experimenting with which level makes sense for me.

Cholesterol balancing is the third priority, as it is more a result that a cause; the other two priorities should balance the cholesterol levels.  My lipid numbers are mixed.  Total cholesterol is over 300, even on a very low carbs diet.  The good news is that triglycerides are 59, down from 143 a few months ago (which was down from well over 200 before primal).  HDL remains a problem at 54.  LDL particle size is unknown and, honestly, I am avoiding the doc right now due to a push for statins (which I am adamantly rejecting).

Insight and commiseration appreciated.

If you have had similar issues or have insight into theses issues, I would love to dialogue in the comments below.

A rather disturbing question came to mind yesterday: Why are we willing to suffer hardship for physical health, but take the easy path for spiritual health? As I think about this question Monday morning, I do not have an answer. But I do not think I need an answer. What I need is recognition of the truth: I am willing to suffer for physical health, but not for spiritual health.

First, there is physical health…

Nearly every day, I am involved in some sort of research (not the lofty kind) about physical health. I read blogs, scan books, and skim articles. I put the pieces together with knowledge of my own bodily functioning and design processes for myself.

These processes take the form of quasi-experiments. I mess with my macro-balance, supplementation, and exercise. I take note of how I feel and what changes have occurred, adjusting the processes accordingly.

In all this, I have disciplined myself, changing my eating habits, walking every day, strength training every week. I am going to be earlier. I am taking recommended supplements.

I evaluate my physical health, measuring blood lipids each month and blood glucose after meals. I grab the calipers once a while and measure my percent of body fat. I weigh now and then. I measure my waist and other markers monthly. I look forward to the times with I must add a new hole to my belt.

I share the processes and findings with friends who are also interested in physical health. I have begun dialoguing on PaleoHack and I continue chatting on Twitter (when I remember). I have face-to-face dialogue with like-minded friends Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings (before Bible Study).

Then there is spiritual health…

Research is minimal and what is there tends to be quick and easy. There is very little experimentation: non-existent may be a better designation. Honestly, I am not sure what spiritual experimentation would entail.

Fellowship is present, but it is not what it could be for it is insufficiently Christ-centered.

I practice some disciplines, listening to the study passage as I wake and study-listening (with the written text in hand) twice a week, but there is little time for thought or dialogue with God.

As for evaluation, the Scripture notes character, love for Christian siblings, service, and attitude, and I know these, but as for actual evaluation—examining my “numbers”—little if anything is done.

This morning, on the bus, I read the first chapter of Bonhoeffer’s Life Together.  Reading his passionate description of true community among Christian siblings shamed me, for I fear I have participated in conjuring up a wish-dream of community and have fostered the separation of body and soul rather than its integration.  May God and my fellows forgive me.

Now, to my fellows, I put the question:

Why are we willing to suffer hardship for physical health, but take the easy path for spiritual health?

I base most of my decisions on assumptions. So do you. If this were not the case we would be stymied every time we had to buy groceries. Assumptions are good when based on a correct view of reality; they cause problems when based on a false view of reality.

I want to uncover the assumptions underlying my view of what it looks like to be whole, healthy humans in the actual world. Below is a gathering of questions that have come to mind.

• Who is involved?
• Who cares?
• Who is thinking about this?
• Who is leading the charge?
• What practices logically flow from this?
• What beliefs support this?
• What is the intended end?
• When should this be done?
• Where should this take place?
• How should one respond?
• How should this be accomplished?
• Why should this be done?

Many more questions could be asked.

What are your questions?

Health is a slippery concept, often falling into the I-know-it-when-I-see-it category: a category notorious for presumption pollution.  In the midst of the varying opinions, how should we view health?

We can view health scientifically. We look at fat percent, weight, blood lipids, c-reactive protein, vitamin D levels, blood pressure, blood sugar, and a host of other measures. Then, if we are wise, we check the relationship between our inputs and  outputs and make appropriate adjustments before resorting to medications (and, yes, I reveal here a bias). We can also compose a science-informed narrative of our health, compare it with our friend Grok and respond accordingly.

We can view health psychologically. We take note of how we feel in the morning and at the end of the day. We realize our soul-body-life linkages–that everything affects everything–and make appropriate adjustments. We look at the narratives we tell ourselves and whether or not they are accurate (“I’m healthy” or “I’m fat,”I’m happy” or “I’m sad”). We look at our relationships and make certain we are caring for those we love.  We seek to understand the true good life, set our goals, and start living.

Both viewpoints are valid, but I would like to offer another perspective:

We ought to view health as a journey

Health is an integrated complex, not discreet parts; each aspect influences all the others.  Health is a journey, not merely a destination; it is something we do,  not merely something we hope for.

Each of us has hindrances (some have hindrances intense beyond words): when we choose health as a way of life, we choose to deal with the hindrances rather than ignore them or use them as an excuse to give up.  We make adjustments, looking for creative ways to act healthfully despite the difficulties.

When health-as-destination eludes us, health-as-journey remains our choice

I keep choosing primal.

• I don’t eat grain or legumes (at least not very often).
• I’ve cut back on dairy.
• I eat adequate protein (though I’m still figuring out what that means), very few carbs (~50 on good days), and ample fats.
• I move every day, usually at a slow to moderate pace.
• I’ve decided to lift heavy things once a week (the 5 gallon water bottles are just waiting to be lifted six ways from Sunday).
• I’m working on getting more sleep (something that needs more intention).
• I’m learning new stuff on PaleoHacks.com.

These are daily choices: heck, some days they are hourly choices. But I continue choosing; it’s a process.

What health choice are you making?

Post your answers in the comments.

• The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford press offers an excellent opportunity for breadth of thought.  (My first in the series was Quantum Theory by Polkinghorne; it changed the way I think about the world.)
  • Oxford University book series, written by experts, in a wide variety of fields
  • A broad knowledge of various disciplines that challenges assumptions, develops learning skills, and deepens knowledge.
  • This breadth of knowledge provides fodder for interdisciplinary integration.
• Biblicaltraining.org, a website offering both beginner and advanced lecture series by known Christian speakers allows to revisit seminary training and to think afresh about previously learned material.
• I have an extensive library, covering a variety of topics and filled with many books that I have not read. I plan to own every book I possess, reading it in a manner consistent with Mortimer Adler.
• I already receive three journals that need deeper engagement: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Christian Education Journal, and the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care.
  • A more careful reading of these journals will help me to engage in fresh thinking.
  • Continuing these subscriptions after the program will keep me up to date on the discussion in these key disciplines.

Do you have plan?

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When I was in elementary school, every February 14 (or on the nearest school day), I and my classmates would bring valentines for everyone as a sign of friendship, or at least of acquaintance. To this day, I’m not sure of the purpose, except maybe cultural training. Who knows, maybe the schools were paid off by card manufacturers and it was all a marketing ploy. (I know, I’m just a bit cynical.)

I do know this: if you did not get a card you felt hurt and if you did not bring cards you were on the outs. Strong cultural expectations and a very real hunger for connection demanded compliance.

Hunger for Connection

We all hunger for connection; this is the deeper truth behind the practice of giving cheesy valentines to elementary classmates. Whether romance, friendship, or otherwise, every human, unless deeply damaged, hungers for connection with other humans.

Society has developed multiple means to satisfy the hunger.  Meat market expertise, Facebook friend count, and Twitter follower count are taken as evidence of connection. American culture is saturated with the search for love.  Pop music, movies, television, and dating/relationship services have romance as their common theme.  Social media continue to grow.  Third place is a foundation for business.  Family is continually redefined.  Technology has made too easy to slip in to shallow relations.

Love is Difficult, but Basic

Real relationship is hard and often painful work, for it involves caring for someone who sometimes bugs the whats-it out of you. It involves unloading your stuff, not knowing whether the other will use it to hurt you. It involves hearing someone else’s stuff, when there is little you can to do about it. It means working through misunderstandings and disagreements when it really is easier to walk away.

But love is basic. It is not an optional activity that we do if we have the time or inclination. It is not a warm fuzzy feeling we put on and take off like a favorite sweater.

Despite the continual search, unencumbered, soul-to-soul love often remains elusive.  The hunt continues, while pale imitations numb wounded souls.

This coming Sunday is Valentine’s Day.  Many will enjoy the traditional activities of cards and candy, flowers and dinners.  Others will be reminded of their loneliness.

Let us all make sure our love goes deeper than tradition and wider than affinity.

It is probably safe to say that most Americans are overweight. A look around nearly any gathering provides ample evidence and a stroll through the appropriate section of the local book store or a look at the closest bus ad seals the deal. Obesity is a serious health problem and weight loss programs are ubiquitous.

But obesity is not the only weight-related health problem.

What about the underweight?

I have a friend who is severely underweight. As this friend searches for information and insight, there is little help in the published world—whether formal or self-published. Most, if not all, nutritional plans focus on weight loss. Most research focuses on weight loss. My friend gets a miffed and not a little frustrated.

A common suggestion, given by helpful others, is to eat more. But what if the problem is a muffed up metabolism? Eating more does nothing to help and the repeated suggestion to eat more does much to harm. My friend’s recent foray into the primal world has helped some, but even there, weight loss is the primary focus.

So I ask, in the sea of medical and nutritional advice for those who are overweight, is anyone talking about the frustrating—and life threatening—health suffered by those who are underweight?

I am quite certain my friend would like an answer.