Ed, my old neighbour from Saskatchewan, usually has no connection to Facebook. Sadly, his wife Ruby has become addicted to that social media site. Last week, a friend put some pictures of the wife and me trying some square dancing on Facebook. Pictures do not lie so I looked like an elephant in a plaid shirt and jeans, lumbering awkwardly on the dance floor. Ruby had Ed look at the pictures on the website and I will regret it for some time to come.
The first question Ed had for me was, "I thought you were losing some weight? You need to lose about 50 pounds more going by your Facebook pictures,” my old neighbour said over the phone. He then offered to lend me money to buy a Fitbit. Not only has Ruby become dedicated to Facebook, but she has been wearing a Fitbit, recording her number of steps every day, religiously. Ed had great fun telling me that while many lose weight by walking 10,000 steps a day, I might want to double that to get my weight down to a size suitable to be caught on a camera.
Thankfully Ruby wanted to tell me of a homemade remedy for aphids for my garden plot, so she took the phone from Ed. One litre of water mixed with a teaspoon each of baking soda, dish detergent and cooking oil placed in a spray bottle and sprayed on leaves will control the aphids. Ruby also wanted to talk to my wife, so I passed the phone to her, and they got caught up on their visiting. I had heard all I wanted to from Ed, especially when he told me I should be as healthy as a horse, but not look as heavy as one in pictures.
Cameras have a way of telling the truth. I thought that I was doing well with shedding more than 10 pounds. The camera was very objective. No matter how much weight I had lost the camera showed I still have more pounds to lose before it can show me as lean. The Bible says that each must bear his own load. I have to take responsibility for how much weight I carry. No one can reduce it but me. If anyone has reason to boast about how much I weigh it will be myself. Others can encourage me in my efforts to lose weight, but they too must watch they do not become tempted to gain weight.
Being objective, testing our own work has to be about not deceiving ourselves. If I do not get on the scales my weight will not be less. I will have to keep checking with the scales if I am to get thinner. I must not grow weary of exercise, must not quit being wise about what and how much I eat. I must keep track of my weight so I can know if I’m losing or gaining pounds. It is myself who must not give up until even the camera confirms I’m lean rather than bulging at my seams.
The camera can be avoided, but it is only self-deception. God can be avoided, but it too is only self-deception.
