Lockdown 112

Lockdown Day 112 - 16 July 2020

Every morning I wake with the choice to get up and go walking or to pull the covers over my face and lie in. And every morning I wonder how many people struggle to make this choice. To me it is not a struggle, just a choice. Some people experience a genuine inward struggle every day. Many people think it's because they aren't morning people. But they are wrong. Our design includes melatonin in our skin which reacts to sunrise and sunset. Whether you are the Queen of England or the street sweeper in Russia or a farmer in Kenia, all of us have the same melatonin. 

This substance is our watchman for metabolic rate, temperature, blood pressure, hormones and the body's sleep-wake-eat-cycle. Triggered by sunset or darkness, the metabolic rate of the body slows down to 50% and slowly increases the body's natural need for sleep. And by sunrise, it enables these processes to assist us in our daily tasks. But, humankind has long forgotten this way of life, abusing their bodies and brain to the utmost, disregarding natural law. 

No wonder we have many health problems physicians and therapists struggle to deal with, because humans follow their own rules to support these destructive habits. 

Our design is to work in daylight hours and rest after sunset. Rest includes sleep, but also winding down in synchronisation with your slower metabolic rate, engaging in eating, home chores and preparing for the next day, allowing the sleep-wake-eat-cycle to follow it's designated route.

So, if you think you're not a morning person or night person, think about your daily routine.  Try to tweak whatever you can to give your body what it needs. God designed us like this for a reason. He knows what is best to live a full, optimal and healthy life. Again, it's a choice. One many people just don't want to make, not wanting to trust the Almighty Creator who knows best, but rather self-navigate their own destiny.

The sun rises not only to give us light, but to instruct our melatonin reserves to function according to design. Think of it like a solar pack without which you can't function optimally. Sleepy or not, try to give your body the right response, by reacting pro-actively. In the same way, sunset should trigger the opposite response, and eating dinner as close to sunset (before or after) is the best time. 

This gives your body time to do the digestive work while your metabolic rate is still high. After sunset everything is digested at half speed. The later you eat a large meal, the longer it will take, robbing your body of much needed restorative and restructuring work with the digested and absorbed nutrients. Again, it's your choice. 

To me, choosing to function as close as possible to my design, means I crown my Creator with the highest honour possible. Its like when you look after an expensive possession. You read the manual and follow the instructions to keep it working at its best. So why not do this for yourself. 

Let's read the manual (God's Word) and follow our design to the best of our ability and available choices. Who knows, maybe a few niggly things will be sorted out in no time. It's Lockdown. Maybe this is something we could actually make some time for. Because we're worth it. Because God's worth the honour. Because He's got this.