FREE AT A COST

PRACTICE: Breath slowly and deliberately for 2 or 3 minutes.

I have experienced the slow painful deaths of too many loved one in the past few years … not a complaint just stating a fact. None of them were indigent or without healthcare. In other words, they could and did have the means to access medical attention prior to and during their illnesses. But that did not buy them good health.

Travel to other countries and in the good ole USA in some places, is sometimes accompanied by a warning to not drink the water. The water is free but not safe for consumption.

Our lives are sustained by the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide within the body. The sky is filled with beautiful stars at night and bright sun during the day. Love is bestowed upon us by our spouses, families and friends. All these things, health, water, air, stars, sun and love are free, but they come at a cost.

None of us can totally prevent (we spend millions of dollars trying) the deterioration of our bodies over time but we can work at living a healthier lifestyle. By doing so, we increase the probability of living healthier longer lives. Good health is a gift, but it doesn’t come without a cost for most of us.

One can’t continuously abuse and misuse the body and expect it to continue to function properly. Our bodies are made up of mostly water. The earth is 71% water with just 3.5% of it being drinkable(fresh)… but more and more that fresh water so necessary for life comes with a price. All of us can do a better job of conserving and preserving natural resources like water. Almost 800 million people in the world have unsafe drinkable water. Water is free but it cost to keep it and make it safe to drink. The same is true of oxygen which is 21% of the earth’s atmosphere – it’s free but it cost billions of dollars to keep it pollutant free.

Love is freely given and freely received. Love comes with a cost and sometimes that cost seems insurmountable. Love drives us to do outrageous and extravagant things. Love requires attention and thought. Love cost us sweat, tears and sometimes blood.

All the examples above are free and ours for the taking and to give but without a doubt they cost all of us something. So, the moral of this narrative – don’t squander those things that are free – they are of great value. Who among us can live without water and oxygen? Who among us wants to live without a good portion of good health and love?

Genesis 1:26

PONDER THIS THOUGHT – I do or don’t think about the cost of most things that I consider free.