When I was 13 yrs old, I became bulimic. After wearing a body cast for 2 months and gaining weight, I didn't like myself. I tried exercise and eating right, but I couldn't do it, so I began purging. After a few months of purging and losing a significant amount of weight, my parents found out and took me to the doctor. He threatened to hospitalize me if I lost 1 more pound. I still felt heavy and thought I needed to lose a few more pounds, but what he said about organ problems and future problems from not taking care of myself scared me into taking better care of myself.
I committed to being physically healthy instead of just being thin and stopped regular purging and eating healthier. I occasionally struggled with this off and on for about 10 years. It wasn't until my son was born that I refused to let myself struggle with it anymore. I wanted to be a good example of taking care of myself. I haven't purged once since that day, 16 years ago, and am so thankful.
As I began teaching a Bible study to high school girls, I asked them what they were studying/reading for their daily devotions or time with God. They admitted they weren't reading anything, really. Some days they would open their Bible's and point at a verse to read, but most days they were too busy and didn't read their Bibles at all.
I was shocked. The first analogy that came to my mind was my bulimia experience. We talked about healthy eating and the importance of it, which they all understood very well. They all agreed going very long without food was a very bad idea and not a healthy way to live.
Then I told them they had a soul, a spiritual body that needed care and food too and that the Bible was food for the soul. I told them they were all starving...spiritually! They seemed to "get it" and nod in approval. From then on, I focused more on the healthy eating spiritually and checking in with them to make sure they were eating.
We talked about eating regularly and daily and a snack a day wasn't enough. We talked about how it was good to be spiritually fat and they couldn't overdo their eating, which seemed to be a relief for once.
I asked them how many days that week they ate, the goal being 7, or course. They said they liked being accountable to someone about this.
Even years later, when I pass these girls at church, I can still ask them "Are you eating?" and they know what I'm talking about. It's like our secret language.
So, let me ask you...."Are you eating?"
