Week 9: Musical Praise - Walk to the Beach Fitness Challenge

Week 9: Musical Praise - Walk to the Beach Fitness Challenge

Healthy Soul: Musical Praise

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to God while I have being.

Psalm 104:33

Music speaks a language that transcends dialects and soothes a hurting soul. The psalmist in this verse uses song to present praise. What a way to express joy, praise, grief, or love! I have had the privilege of playing the piano for worship, wedding, and funeral services. Hearing, singing, or playing music can begin a healing process from deep within us. Studies have shown that people with speech changes may be able to sing despite difficulties with talking. Music can help emotional scars begin to soften. Song reaches different areas of the brain and is associated with an increase in endorphins; we do well to tap into those areas daily. Even nature sings if we take the time to listen and allow the soothing natural tones to minister to our inner selves. I encourage all of us to enjoy the healing and strengthening power of music indoors and outdoors daily.

Healthy Mind: Old Hundred

Old Hundred, North Carolina is located 103 miles from Woodleaf United Methodist Church on our way toward Wilmington. The census lists this place as a minor civil division with a population of approximately 300 people. Although I couldn't find much about this tiny dot on the map, the name intrigues me and perhaps other folks who have spent a bit of time in many of the older hymnbooks. Old Hundred is a long meter tune usually attributed to Loys Bourgeois, a French Composer. You might have sung Psalm 100 "All People That On Earth Do Dwell" to this tune. Still unfamiliar? The tune is also commonly played, perhaps every Sunday, with the Doxology, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow." Old Hundred has found its way to mainstream places such as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Virgil Thomson's The Plow that Broke the Plains, Symphony No. 4 by David Maslanka, and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Healthy Body: Meatless Meals

Meatless meals fit in nicely with a musical theme. Go ahead and smile...it's good for you! Our health cabinet at Woodleaf UMC recently hosted a speaker who came to give information about meatless meals. A diet rich in plant foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, is recommended by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and many other organizations. You might want to experiment with a meatless menu one day a week or more often. Legumes such as pinto beans and eggs offer an inexpensive substitute for meat. If you are looking to limit beef, you might consider lean cuts of poultry or fish. Dark, leafy veggies provide calcium and iron. Add extra nutrients to salads by topping a salad, soup, or omelet with nuts. Tofu is a meat substitute that is a master of disguise: it takes on the flavor of the food with which it is cooked.

If you are interested in exploring meatless recipes, you may wish to visit Cooking Light's Meatless Recipes for a few ideas or click here for tips on meatless meals.