I often hear people say a specific person is a work of art.

 

It can be condescending or used to say something negative about a person.

 

Today, it is not the case.

 

Each of us is a work of art and a masterpiece.

 

The legendary John Wooden has said: “Make everyday a masterpiece.”

 

This week, as I reflect on life in general and on those around me who are no longer here today, I know God created a work of art within each of us.

 

Earlier this week, I learned of another of my peers passing away from something where his body didn’t function properly.

 

Often, we take for granted the simple pleasure of using the bathroom on our own.

 

I’m amazed by the complexity of the human body and how much better we must care for it.

 

Doctors study human anatomy and help us in that process, each specializing in their own area.

 

I have two nieces who are pediatric doctors working at different hospitals.

 

I know that their training is priceless, and parents depend on them for their children.

 

In the words of Father Vernon Huguley, my District Chaplain for the Gulf Coast District for Knights of Peter Claver, he always says, “Sometimes you must go through it to get to it.”

 

I find that so true every day as I age and better understand my own body.

 

I know we are each a masterpiece, because everything must work together for us to live.

 

Just like a watch tells time, its gears work in tandem.

 

I’m also reminded of the song “How Great Thou Art” when I think about my health and how we heal, and of the line, “Sometimes you must go through it to get to it.”

 

Many years ago, when I was in the military, I attended and graduated from a course called Master Fitness Class at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.

 

Although this course isn’t the same as it was in the 80s when I attended, I learned invaluable tools that still resonate with me today when it comes to our health.

 

We have to do a better job of caring for our bodies and eating properly.  One thing that sticks out most that I learned in the 80s is eating water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.

 

Not to mention exercising.

 

Remember that your body is a work of art, and each day we must keep making it a masterpiece by living a healthy lifestyle.

 

Today, I challenge you to reflect on your body and the understanding that it is a work of art. How well are you working on your masterpiece?

 

“The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.” – Michelangelo