Thursday, 21 November 2024 09:55

Healing a 'sick' heart

Written by  Farmer's Chaplain Colin Miller
Farmer's Chaplain, Colin Miller. Farmer's Chaplain, Colin Miller.

OPINION: Like many of you, I am familiar with the old adage "You are what you eat".

Of course, there is a lot of truth in those words. What we eat has a direct effect on our overall physical wellbeing. We would have to be deluded to think we can keep our bodies in top shape on a rubbish diet. Yep, simply put, we need to put good quality fuel in our tanks! And yes, I try my best to do exactly that.

I also heard some wise words many years ago that have stuck with me through my journey through life. Here they are: "It's not so much what you eat, but what's eating you."

The need for a good diet is a give, but the truth is, what's eating you can actually override your great diet. Sadly, I must admit I have seen this exact thing with people many times.

When we think those words though, they are talking about what is happening in our inner world. What's going down on the inside; that part of you we can't see with our physical eyes.

Being out of shape physically is usually more readily visible than with this inward stuff. It may take a little longer to notice, but show up in our health, it most definitely will!

Today I will put my finger on one of these silent assassins that can wreak havoc in our inner world. I call this one "unfulfilled expectations".

Everybody carries expectations. We go into things expecting something. That's normal for us humans. What does the future look like, what does it promise me? What are we hoping for up ahead?

Whether it be business related, a new job or position, or a move to another location, we carry an expectancy in us related to that. Perhaps we were expecting to be chosen for a promotion, or a team, but our name just doesn't get called... what then?

This is most certainly true when it comes to our relationships. What if our expectations and hopes all 'turn to custard', where do we go from there?

Can I mention here, families and the wills of the deceased, just for starters. Unfulfilled expectations abound! There are times when people develop their expectations in their own imaginations. Nothing has been said, done or promised, it's all been cooked up in their own minds. Again, I have witnessed exactly this many times.

However, this is not always the case. The expectations and hopes come directly from what others have said, done, or promised. But much less than was expected comes of it. Or maybe it's even worse; nothing at all ever comes of it!

When a nagging deep disappointment takes hold, bitterness and unforgiveness won't be far away. And now something in your inner world is seriously eating you up. The truth is it will take much more than dietary adjustments, changes and/or supplements to make headway through this stuff.

That just won't cut it.

A pertinent brief quote from the Good Book will fit in here nicely: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick". Indeed, how true!

We then ponder, where to from here? Is there hope? Is there a solution: If you can find someone or get connected to someone who knows something about 'the heart', then you are well on the way to getting free. And yes, I do know and can recommend that someone to you. Until next time, God Bless.

To contact Colin: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

More like this

Take time out, refresh

OPINION: I must admit I really do enjoy spring. The extra daylight minutes and the warmer temps are very welcome in my world!

Common sense still makes sense

OPINION: I was down in the Wairarapa just recently meeting up with some good friends of many years. A businessman colleague of one of the guys joined us at a local restaurant for lunch.

Face-to-face connections in a growing digital world

OPINION: Just recently I was clicking through some of the more reliable news sites, when I bumped into a headline that seemed to call out to me: Loneliness Now A Major US Health Threat. Yep, loneliness was now deemed to be seriously affecting people’s all-around health.

Featured

No bird flu on second farm

Biosecurity New Zealand says test results to date from a small free-range layer chicken farm near Dunedin are negative for avian influenza.

No disease on other Mainland Poultry farms

Biosecurity New Zealand has reported no signs of disease on other chicken farms operated by Mainland Poultry in Otago, however testing and monitoring work continues.

National

NZ out of step - report

New Zealand is out of step globally in looking to put a price on agricultural emissions from food production.

Pork imports furore

Pork farmers says a significant influx of imported pork is causing them concern.

Govt limits forestry conversions

Farmers have welcomed the Government’s move designed to limit farm to forestry conversions entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Machinery & Products

More front hoppers

German seeding specialists Horsch have announced a new 1600- litre double-tank option that will join its current Partner FT single…

Origin Ag clocks up 20 years

With roots dating back to 2004, Origin Ag was formed as a co-operative business model that removed the traditional distributor,…

Teat spray price drop

FIL, the animal health and dairy hygiene subsidiary of GEA Farm Technologies, is dropping the price for its chlorhexidine teat…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Loud noises!

OPINION: One of the strongest arguments for Act’s Treaty Principles Bill is probably its opponents’ total inability to raise a…

Barks like a dog

OPINION: Landcorp is putting a brave face on its latest result, highlighting its progress on KPIs like climate change and…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter