The only way, you are not

 The one thing about legos besides being one of the coolest toys ever is that the instruction manual is non-negotiable. No matter who you are no matter your personality or IQ everybody needs and uses the instruction manual. We all put legos together by the same process. I know there will always be someone that believes argues differently but we recently got a 1,771

piece Yoda lego set and I can tell you that no one will be putting this set together without the instruction manual. 

This blog isn't about legos or lego sets, even know, like I mentioned earlier legos are the coolest toys on the block! This blog is about how we treat other things in life as if there is a universal step-by-step way to do it right. I have seen and experienced this type of false ideology of  "I've got the instruction manual" attitude as a Pastor in the church for over 20 years and now as a health coach in the health and fitness industry for the past 7 years.

Let me explain. When I was a young youth pastor, I loved attending training conferences. This was my opportunity to glean from others in my field. Some were from my peers that have been doing this longer and then there were the speakers that were brought in to teach (tell) us strategies that would help us be more effective at using our time wisely, being better at personal growth and all the other things that make us a better Christian. I would always leave encouraged with all kinds of new strategies, to only a few months later be totally discouraged because I failed to do what I learned to be the most effective way to grow my own spirituality and to help the students in our ministry grow in the way I was told was most effective. As I matured I realized that I was only failing at being like the speakers and my peers. I was growing my faith and I was becoming a better pastor, it just didn't look the same as others. It's not supposed to! Unlike legos, spirituality looks different and our growth in the Lord doesn't necessarily come the same as others, most of the time it won't. 

 I also noticed this same attitude with nutrition. Someone would go on a diet and do really well. Sometimes that diet was ridiculously restrictive but they did well, and it worked for them. Now, every time someone needs help they believe that they have the answer to everybody that is struggling with their weight. Everybody knows an MLM supplement recipient, you know the ones that purchase an MLM program. Some do really well others not so much. Most become a coach and some falsely promote their supplement as some sort of magic bullet for health, others go on to be great coaches helping people reclaim their health. Kudos to them, that's what a coach does. I'm not against MLM's and I know there are some good ones with good products, but they are not the answer to good health, and not everybody will do well on the program they offer. 

 The number one way to help someone in their journey whether it's a spiritual journey or a health journey or any other type of journey is to get to know them to walk with them and give them the ability to be themselves and when our way is beneficial to them use it and when it's not, help them find their way. We must never let our pride push them in a direction that makes us feel better about who we are, this is of no help to them. 

Anti-maskers are uncaring?

Are the people that refuse to wear face coverings uncaring?

Before we try to judge whether others care or not, I think it would be a good idea to look at some facts about protecting ourselves and others from this or any other virus.

There are many things that we can do to protect ourselves and others. Let’s talk about four of the best things. Three of the four are on the CDC website, with the one exception being the most important for protecting ourselves: Our Immune System. I’m not sure why it’s not mentioned on the CDC website or why it's not mentioned by any national or local leaders but it is without a doubt the most effective way to keep yourself healthy.


Four of the top ways to protect ourselves and others from Covid19.


1. Our immune system.
Our immune system is the best defense we have. An immune system can be strengthened by number one: eating lots of nutrient-dense foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and by keeping highly processed calorie-dense junk foods to a minimum. Number two: by exercising regularly; staying active.



2. Washing our hands.
Hand washing is the second most effective tool to help combat the spread. If the virus doesn’t reach the inside of our body or the surfaces we touch our chances of getting it pretty much disappear and it’s also very hard to spread.


3. Keep our distance from others. (social distancing).
When we keep our distance from others the chance of spreading or contracting the virus is diminished, especially indoors.


4. Wearing a face covering.
Depending on where you are and what your doing, wearing the proper face-covering, in the proper way can lessen the chance of getting or spreading the virus.


There are plenty of people that are neglecting one or all of the other habits, so does it really make sense to label people who refuse to wear a mask as uncaring? Or should we label everyone who doesn't follow any of these habits as uncaring?

Is it justified for people that may not be practicing one, or all of the other three to criticize those who maybe practicing the other three but not mask-wearing?

Immune System?  A large portion of people in America don’t eat right or exercise regularly. There are a lot of people that are refusing to change their diet or exercise and causing themselves to be more vulnerable, but they still find it appropriate to criticize others for not masking up. We all understand that there are people that have a compromised immune system and it's no fault of theirs. That doesn’t take away the responsibility of eating healthy and exercising to help the immune system do the best it can with said compromise. However, it does give those people even more reason to be more diligent practicing the other three.

Hand Washing? According to studies, less than 60% of Americans wash their hands regularly after going to the bathroom and that up to 95% don’t wash their hands well enough to kill harmful bacteria. You would think we would see a lot more mandates, criticism, and debate over handwashing than mask-wearing since hand washing is a lot more effective and less intrusive to the person doing it.

Social distancing? We have seen thousands and thousands of people over the last year totally disregard any social distancing at all. 

Mask wearing? Just like washing our hands improperly reduces the effect of handwashing, so does wearing the mask improperly and unfortunately, this is also happening regularly.

I put the bulk of my energy is into strengthening my immune system, this makes a lot of sense working in the fitness field. 

I have been the most convicted about hand-washing. Even know I wash my hands and use sanitizer, I only spend 5-10 sec washing; I have made a commitment to do better. 

I also do my best to respect people's space. If I think, or someone tells me they feel uncomfortable, I keep my distance.

I wear a mask where it's required to do so. 

The purpose of this blog is not to argue for or against mask-wearing, personally, if I was going to take a hard line it would be in the area of personal health. But I am bothered that some people have the nerve to judge people's hearts based on if they are masking up or not. 

Telling people that they are uncaring because of the possibility of killing others could amount to hypocrisy unless the accuser plans on wearing one for the rest of their life. Since every day before this virus and every day after there is a chance, each of us could give someone a virus that could kill them or someone they come in contact with. For more deadly viruses like SARS, the chance is greater and for the yearly flu it's less deadly but the risk is still there every single year and will be forever. 


No matter where we stand on the mask-wearing or any of these other habits, it's most important for each of us to ask ourselves; how well am I complying with any habits that benefit myself and others. Personal Responsibility. Since most of the time, we have no idea why someone isn't adhering to one of these habits it would be most caring to not play judge and jury to them.