May18

Pastoral letter
May 2018
I know very little about the workings of the stock market and I certainly could
not begin to offer investment advice to anyone, but I have a hunch that
anybody with cash to spare might do well to consider a modest investment in
one of the leading manufacturers of bathroom scales. Scarcely a day passes
when we do not read or hear mention of obesity and of the potentially very
harmful effects that can result from being habitually overweight.
In his new television series, chef and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
has reaffirmed that the United Kingdom population has the highest rates of
obesity in Western Europe, with over a third of us coming into that category
and as many as half of us tipping the scales at the overweight level.
Unhealthy eating and insufficient regular exercise among a growing section of
the population are together leading to a major national health crisis, placing
an intolerable burden on the NHS. As one of those who is definitely in the
overweight category I don’t need to be reminded, or, on second thoughts,
perhaps I do need to be reminded, of how important it is not to carry excess
weight.
In the same week as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s series began on television
there was a fascinating programme on radio in which an expert spoke of the
importance of maintaining as high exercise levels as possible as we get older
in order to increase our chances of being healthy in our later years.
Please do not watch this space but take my word for it that, as a result of
those and other similar influences, I have decided (again!) to try to adopt as
active and healthy a lifestyle as possible. It will not be easy because, like
many people, I enjoy so many of things that are not good for me, but I will
try nevertheless.
Of course physical health cannot be separated from spiritual well-being. How
vital it is to maintain a healthy spiritual diet. That might mean making a
concerted effort to make time for peace and quiet, for prayer and
contemplation or for mediation and study. We each need to find a recipe that
suits us but it is so important for our overall health that we do find that
recipe. The less unnecessary baggage we carry, be that physical or spiritual,
the less cluttered our minds will be and the more spiritually and physically
healthy we will be as a result.
With all my love,
Calum.