Have you ever felt “off” from your usual self? It can be difficult to put your finger on what’s not right, but everything feels kind of wrong. That’s how I have felt for several days. Someone commented negatively to me right before I walked into church services on Sunday, which soured my whole mood. Usually, I can compartmentalize negative comments to be dealt with at a later time, but Sunday, my brain did not want to put anything in the box marked “To be Dealt with Later.” So I spent the morning in worship chewing on the one comment. I delivered a difficult sermon reflecting on a recent school shooting in our community which impacted many in the congregation. I had re-written the finished sermon from Thursday to include some reflections on the event of Friday in our local school district. So I was already on edge about the changes and the difficult topic matter.

Train yourself in godliness, ⁸ for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹ The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance.  1 Timothy 7b-9 New Revised Standard Version

I kept chewing on this one negative comment and began my normal downward spiral evaluating my performance as a pastor and administrator of the church. (Is that too honest for you? Sorry.) Finally, I broke the spiral when I had enough time to figure out what was happening in my head and heart. I had missed three days of exercising because I was attending to the needs of others and not attending to my own needs. There were good reasons to put off my own care, but I’m learning that attending to my emotional and spiritual health is tied to taking care of my physical health.

So, today after a lunch meeting, I made my way to the gym. I had packed my workout gear in my car last week, and it was still there. So I was ready. I really did hop on the treadmill, ready for a good fast walk. I increased my speed and the intermittent incline on my walk. Thirty-five minutes of walking and listening to my favorite playlist of 80’s dance music invigorated me. It really was great. I figured out a way to answer the negative commenter, solved the question of what we would have for dinner, and drank all of my water. Something was wrong, but I’m learning new ways to make things right within my soul.

Find some ways to make something right in your world today, if you can, or make something right for someone else.