The Quick Fix

I’ve been on a physician directed weight loss plan since July, 2005, and have been fairly successful with this conservative approach. I am one of those people that have literally tried almost every weight loss “scheme” or plan marketed. I have realized, as with most areas of my life, the best approach is a slow shift of focus and more balance. I go from eating a LOT of the “bad” stuff and not much “good” stuff, to eating very little “bad” stuff and more balanced “good” stuff. This seems to be working for me.

On Valentine’s day our office had a few deliveries of “sweets” which is common in an office setting. We are being ‘wooed’ and ‘courted’ by therapy facilities and imaging center for business; via bagel and confection deliveries on a regular basis. Usually these things are gone within an hour of arrival. What can I say; being mostly women, think hormones, sweets, chocolate…enough said! This is a good thing from where I sit, trying to abstain from these temptations.

Unfortunately, the majority of the office has been trying this new “quick weight loss” plan that promotes losing 10 pounds in 3 days. I didn’t laugh directly in their face, because honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t tried this particular diet, but in most all diets of this type, the results are short lived and the long-term physical effect on the body from this yo-yo starvation type diet are sometimes irreversible. The long-term mental effects are also sometimes irreversible. I kept my mouth shut. I’m thinking of having a tally of the number of days these “treats” remain and posting it there in the breakroom.

The whole scenario got me thinking about our desire to problem-solve or deal with issues in this “FIX-IT-NOW” mentality. We all want a quick fix in life. This could be a quick fix to lose weight…a quick fix to make money….a quick fix to find a spouse…..a quick fix to home repair. The list goes on and on. I’ve even witnessed and personally attempted the quick fix to reach God.

I don’t know your story, but I do know mine. I know that the more I try to ‘duct tape’ my soul, the less long-term effect it has. I use duct tape as an example because my dad was one of those people. Pretty much everything can be repaired with a quick-fix of duct tape. The miracle of duct tape is that it will hold….for awhile. Unfortunately, the leak returns, the tape falls off…and now the leak seems a bit more persistent.

The same applies to my soul. I ‘tape’ it over with a 12 word Scripture and prayer of thanks to God and am actually surprised when the same issue, only BIGGER, is found hanging in my closet the following day, week, month; however long it takes. I sometimes even scream: “I thought I dealt with you! What are you doing back in here?”

The endurance and steadfast spirit come with time. The self-control comes with time. Just like in our physical bodies, my doctor reminds me regularly when I get frustrated about slow weight loss: “It took a lot of time to put this weight on, and it is going to take a lot of time to take it off.”
When the Great Physician healed my inner-dead spirit, I still had to go through rehabilitation. Don’t give up on the new life and new birth in Christ. It took time to develop the selfish you, and it will take time to develop the God-Spirit planted in your heart.