Here's
a thought that's not so easily dismissed:
Imagine
four arrows shot, two each through your eyes and ears! They would intersect in
your two 'amygdalae' *, the two parts of
your brain that orchestrate and stimulate the release into your blood stream
the symphony of relaxation hormones and the flood of stress hormones in
response to the perceived presence or absence of threats and danger. So what
are you feeding your amygdalae? Imaginary arrows shot through your eyes
and ears are good reminders to guard your eye and ear gateways
to not only your amygdalae, but also to your heart (spirit) -- the seat of your
core system of beliefs.
God
designed the human body NEVER TO DIE, so He included in it natural
healing and repairing abilities. Imagine what's involved in healing a
simple cut. Sin ushered into the world the knowledge of good vs. evil, and we
incline so heavily towards thoughts of evil, bad, lack, sickness (‘this and
that run in my family’, ‘I've always been like this or that’, etc.), worry and
death. Awwww, poor amygdalae -- like an overworked orchestra
conductor repeating the discordant sounds of the aggressive part of a musical
score (‘Danger, danger!’). If only our bodies would somehow diminish the
supply of those stress hormones with which we flood our blood streams! Even
what we call ‘entertainment’ often causes the amygdalae to signal release of
STRESS hormones, rather than RELAXATION hormones! (Consider the harmful impact
a steady diet of stress hormones has on our immune system.)
Alas,
not to worry. Even in our sinful rebellion, God has faithfully provided good
food for our amygdalae -- the iterative, but coded Love message echoed across
the pages of His Word, The Bible. And just in case we miss His bottom line, He
even sent us a succinct, summary:
Finally,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble whatever
things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever
things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy—THINK and MEDITATE on these things....and the God of peace will be
with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
Yep,
this is indeed good food for your amygdalae! Consider the
alternative...
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* Amygdalae
is plural for amygdala.
See: http://bigthink.com/videos/the-amygdala-in-5-minutes,
and also
http://yourfearfreelife.com/where-does-fear-come-from/
