Soul Fit

Do you wear a Fitbit?

I remember when the Fitbit first came out and people began wearing them to know how many steps they took in a day.  Over and over I heard people say, “I just got in my 10,000 steps” or sometimes it was “I’ve got to walk around the room a few more times to get my steps in.”

Fitbits and smartwatches can do so much more than count my steps today.

We now have devices that can monitor heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep patterns.

Fitbit even predicts it will soon have a device that will detect the flu or even a new virus like Covid-19 before you begin showing symptoms.

They note how cool it will be to know you need to quarantine before you even have symptoms.  I’d like to see you try to explain that one to your boss!

I recently read an article which expands the goal of Fitbit and probably all these tech devices - 

Fitbit’s Quest to Be Your Health Monitor, for Body and Soul.

I get the body part with measuring my exercise level, heart rate, and breathing.  

But soul?

Fitbit, Apple, Samsung believe they can create a device that monitors my soul? Really?

What feeds my soul is purpose and meaning, wonder and love. 

I wish it were so simple…. that all I needed to do is strap on a device so that with every decision I make and every person I encounter I receive notifications to let me know if my soul is being filled with joy and peace.

Even if a device can warn me when I’m stressed, it still falls short in helping me develop a life filled with loving relationships and meaningful investment of my time and energy.

I’ve found that a key to a healthy soul is spiritual nourishment.  As I make time for prayer and contemplation, worship and quality time with family and close Christian friends, my heart and soul sing for joy.

The psalmist noted, “The Lord makes known to me the path of life; In His presence is fullness of joy.”

And Jesus offered us the pathway to a full life when he said, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

So I’m good with wearing a Fitbit or Smartwatch to help increase my physical health, but I’m going to follow the Words of Truth that have been around for thousands of years to monitor my soul.