I went to a dermatologist last week. She was brutal. Apparently I have old man spots on my head and she was determined to destroy them. She was armed with a can of super cold stuff and she sprayed and sprayed and sprayed and sprayed. I’m not exaggerating. About halfway through I had a brain freeze without the ice cream, but she kept on spraying. It better work.
Her diagnosis was too much sun from too many years in Africa, Georgia and California. Our sun – we can’t live without it and we can’t live with it. That is at least too much of it. Finding the right balance is one of life’s great challenges. In I Corinthians 9:25 Paul wrote, “Every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.” Temperance is abstinence from bad things and no indulgence in good things.
It would be easy at this point to go on a diatribe about certain foods and habits. But that would be insulting your intelligence. We know we should be eating our veggies, fruits, grains and nuts. We know we should exercise and get adequate rest. Instead let’s look at the word “mastery.” The dictionary defines it as being in total control, being an expert in something. It helps if we have a mentor or a role model. I cannot think of any role model more outstanding than Jesus Himself. Talk about total control. In Hebrews we are told He was tempted just like we are and yet was without sin. He was a master of Himself. And He did this while dining with publicans and harlots. If we seek mastery we best contemplate the life and teachings of Jesus. Go for the best.
Written by Roger Bothwell on December 10, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org