Body and Soul

Anonymous Two years ago my dad and I ran the Seattle half-marathon, his first ever! My dad who is over the age of 55 and a type II diabetic does not have an athletic build, nor does he have the training of a runner. He is a farmer and a gardener. His training regimen for the event consisted of running once a week on Sunday mornings. At the time, my mom tried to convince me to talk him out of the event for fear that his body would not be able to endure the 13.1 miles. "Oh my goodness, Brian; he's going to have a heart attack! If you do this you better stay with your dad! Don't leave him!" I'll admit I had my doubts, but something in the back of my mind convinced me that he would be just fine.

When we ran the event I was suprised at the amount of pain he endured. I stayed with him the for the entire run and he did not stop, once. He didn't stop at the top of the steep inclines, not for a drink of water, not to use the restroom and not even when his legs cramped 2 miles from the finish line. It was one of the most amazing physical feats I ever witnessed. I was so proud of him.

I was reminded of this when we read about Eleazar's bravery under torture in 4 Maccabees. Eleazar was an old man who kept his wits about him under the pain of torture. In 4 Maccabees 6:9-11 it says:

"...he suffered the torment and scorned the compulsion and overcame the pain. And under a hail of blows, the old man, like a true athlete, prevailed over his torturers. His face beaded with sweat and panting heavily, he roused his very torturers to amazment at his fortitude."

This passage provoked me to rethink. What is a person of strength and grace? Our discussion in class today focused on the importance of the soul over the body. The old man who we would not typically see as one who would endure the pains of torture is compared to an athlete, one whose body is purified, the perfection of physical prowess.

One of the things I took away from this passage was that the intestinal fortitude of one's soul can overcome the limitations of the body. Our soul is what pushes our body to endure.