What's going on with our Aussie Health?

     What’s going on with our Aussie health?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics states; 23% of the Australian population are deficient in Vitamin D. How does this happen, in a country which just falls short of sun worship? And according to the health and wellbeing.gov.au website; 18% of Australians are on medication for depression; that’s almost one in five.

Exercise, sunshine and mediation are all proven to reduce depression, as well as increase vitamin D absorption. If this is so, one needs to ask; why are these figures so high, if all we need do is go for a walk and get a little sunshine?

So much can be done to eliminate both of these conditions (depression and vitamin D deficiency) and yet many choose the simple solution of medication, over a brisk outdoor walk, meditating on wellness as we go. The solution is simple, even if it’s just using the power of a pose; take the wonder woman stance for instance (stand tall, hands on hips, legs slightly apart). Even this simple act, can help lift a mood.

Now, I’m no medical expert, not by any means and I’m not saying medication is wrong. For some it’s absolutely necessary to function well in this world, but most of us will not do that little bit of exercise, or meditation, not even if it’s to help ourselves.

There are any number of books on the topic of living your best life. In fact, only 5% of the population will read and act on what they've read, even if it means improving their situation.

Right at the moment I’m reading a chapter from a pharmacology book which states that dolphins play with puffer fish. The puffer will release its toxins and the dolphin gets 'high.' Also, a dog will lick toads for the same reason, just a small lick is enough to get high, but not be completely poisoned. Other animals too, have found ways to get high...mushrooms, fermented seed, poppy seed, marijuana seeds, locoweed for horses, catnip for cats.

People have ‘drives’ for life - food, water, sex and also our own personal drive to get high, through substances; drugs, adrenalin and the like.

Intoxication plays a powerful role in 'depatterning;' taking you out of your rut. It promotes lateral thinking and problem solving - leaps between ideas. Intoxication lessens our constraints to crazy ideas, hair-brained notions and changes in consciousness, but does that make it right?

What if you could get ‘high’ without the use of drugs, alcohol, or dangerous and risky behaviours? What if all it takes, is to ask the Holy Spirit to lift your mood? What if you asked the Holy Spirit for new and exciting ideas? The bible says; you have not, because you ask not. Perhaps you should try asking sometime. 

We live life according to our perspective. It’s found we’ll make different choices, depending on our perspective of living 80 years, compared to eternity. The Christian view of living into eternity, isn’t a bad notion. It means they have a perspective other people don’t.

What if you had all the time in the world, to achieve your dreams? What if age were no barrier, as to whether you could start to live your dreams? Would that cause you to make better, more informed choices? I believe it would.

When you live with an 80-year perspective, you think you’ve got to do it all now. Or you think you’re too old and you’ve missed the boat, so why even start? With a never-ending perspective, it doesn’t matter what you do, or how old you are, you can make a start today, regardless of age.

When we physically die, we move across into the spirit realm and everything we’ve learned here, goes with us. It’s not like being born, where we have to learn everything from scratch. I wrote a piece recently where said it was a shame that our knowledge dies with us, that no-one else knows what we know. And that’s true, but you still retain your knowledge.

The more knowledge you have here, the less you have to learn when you arrive there. For you will still learn. There’s always more to know. And our interests can change. Eternity will give you ample time to learn new skills.

The Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards, intensely studied heaven. He believed the saints will be progressive in knowledge to all eternity, adding that the number of ideas of the saints shall also increase to all eternity. (As stated by Eternal Perspective Ministries.)

There are a few bible verses which show we will continue to learn, once we get to heaven. 1 Cor 3:12 for now we see in a mirror dimly… Now I know in part; then I shall know fully. I do believe learning will be done a different way in heaven than here, but we will still learn.  Matthew, John, Acts, Philippians and Luke also speak of ‘epiginosko,’ a Greek word, which means to learn.

Our knowledge and skills will vary in heaven, just as they do on earth, for just as we are individuals with different interests and capabilities here, so too will we be individuals with different interests and capabilities there. My advice (for what it’s worth); never think you’re too old, or even too stupid. We can all learn.