Dr. Gary Fraser, a researcher with the Loma Linda University School of Public Health who is researching the community, told the BBC. "At this moment we don't really know that but there's been one interesting fact that's been known now for 20 or 30 years and that is that people that go to church regularly - whatever faith they have - live longer and there's no question about that." From the linked BBC article:"It does certainly raise the question if there's something about spiritual life that also has an impact on longer life," says Dr Gary Fraser, who is researching the community............
It seems that regular churchgoers have significantly lower levels of stress hormones and so may be better equipped to cope with the challenges in life, say scientists.
"Religion and connection to something higher than oneself, connection to the sacred, connection to a tight-knit religious community allows you to modulate your reactions and your emotions to believe there is a broader purpose," says Dr Kerry Morton, who is involved in a longer-term study on Adventist health.
"Therefore your body can stay in balance and not be destroyed by those stressors and traumas over time."
What do you think it is which causes church goers to live longer? We celebrate only birthdays of 90 years or more at the 250-strong Bible study I'm involved with; there's a birthday about 3 times a year! And they don't just turn 90 and die, either, they continue going to Bible study. One of our substitute leaders (a very good friend of mine, healthy and sharp as a tack) is 93 and lives on her own since her 98 year old husband of 70 years died 3 months ago! She leans heavily on her faith and always has.
From Proverbs 3: 1,2 "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity."
BY the way, I just got an email from Ms Z on the sailboat in the Mediterranean...she's doing great and I wanted to share that she tells me she's seeing shooting stars every night there and she adds "The strange feeling is that I can't think of any wishes. I am so truly happy and in peace....I would like to dedicate all the falling stars I see to the ones in need. May they bring them luck and peace" I loved that and wish you her falling stars if you need them. :-)Have a wonderful Sunday........leave your cares with Him. It helps your blood pressure!
xxx Z
28 comments:
...the key to methuselah, perhaps. ;)
My psychology textbook acknowledged this very thing.
W.B. Yeats
THAT is no country for old men. The young In one another's arms, birds in the trees -Those dying generations -at their song, The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas, Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long Whatever is begotten, born, and dies. Caught in that sensual music all neglect Monuments of unageing intellect. An aged man is but a paltry thing, A tattered coat upon a stick, unless Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing For every tatter in its mortal dress, Nor is there singing school but studying Monuments of its own magnificence; And therefore I have sailed the seas and come To the holy city of Byzantium. O sages standing in God's holy fire As in the gold mosaic of a wall, Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre, And be the singing-masters of my soul. Consume my heart away; sick with desire And fastened to a dying animal It knows not what it is; and gather me Into the artifice of eternity. Once out of nature I shall never take My bodily form from any natural thing, But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make Of hammered gold and gold enamelling To keep a drowsy Emperor awake; Or set upon a golden bough to sing To lords and ladies of Byzantium Of what is past, or passing, or to come.
nicrap; good one! why not?!! :-)
Sue...Ms Z is truly having the time of her life and rather dreading the boarding of 3 new crew members for the last few days of the trip, thru the Straits of Gibraltar. Originally, she couldn't wait because she knew she and the captain could take six hour shifts if new people were shifting them, too, but she's become used to the schedule and loves so much the utter solitude of having a four hour shift in the middle of the night and seeing shooting stars and phosphorescent algae in the water and the evocative lights from ships in the distance or lights in villages on shore.......she's kind of liked the complete peace even when it's stormed and she's been running all over the 49' sailboat taking down or putting up different sails.
Elbro, is that what that says? :-)
But, seriously, that's gorgeous...thanks for posting that!
We are hardwired to seek The Creator. The more in tune we are with that the happier and healthier we'll be.
Z - I really love hearing about ms.Z's sailing trip - because it's something I would never do. She is quite a woman.
And Z - I could paint that picture of the full moon and shooting star - and send it to you - just would have to know where to send it.
piece of cake.
full moons and shooting stars are the core of my very existence
you name the size of the canvas
in fact i'm going to print it out and paint it anyway
I could have it to you by Christmas.
Yeats poem is about an old man who takes a spiritual journey hoping to find immortality
Elbro, thanks...I had to tease with "Is that what it says?" because I can't grasp some of FJ's stuff and I"ve shared that with you:-)
This, I got. And loved. I hadn't read it and love it...
Sue, thanks, but I don't even have space for another painting...I really appreciate your offer!! If you do paint it, I hope you take a picture and post it! Thanks so much
And yes, Ms Z is VERY much her father, who was a huge sailing afficianado. She finally surpassed his sailing credentials 3 months ago. He'd be so thrilled that she's having this great trip. I'll try to synthesize some of what she's emailing me daily when she's finished...I'm encouraging her to write a story of this trip, too. just great stuff.
and by the way Z **** you
and not that you care dear z but as soon as I talk to my IT man today your name will be permanently removed from my links and I can promise you that I will never darken the doorstop of your blog again - you ********** *****
but have a nice day
nor will I ever check your blog again ever - you can be sure of that
call me one oversensitive Pissed Off Liberal
now would anyone else like to refuse one of my paintings?
Sorry
Yeats himself was frightened by death and the aging pocess
Sue, I wish you the best.
I don't give my address to anybody; and I also have no room.
That takes no goodness from your amazing offer.
But, I think your decision is an excellent one.
Elbro, are you saying 'sorry' because of ME? By the way, Yeats wasn't the only one to have that fear, right? ;-)
Whoa Sue, I don't want one of your paintings either.
Z may believe I want to exterminate everyone born before 1965, but even I wouldn't flip out like you just did.
Absolutely
Z -
me too.
no hard feelings
:)
"no hard feelings"? You said "I will never darken the doorstop of your blog again - you ********** *****"
I don't have hard feelings...I'm DONE, BELIEVE me, but are you kidding me?
And I still won't call YOU names.
Go in peace, Sue.
Let this be the end.
come on Z - how do you know that those ********* stand for bad names?
I'm very far from stupid, Sue...don't push me.
I'm DONE, Sue.
Z - I never said you were stupid.
it doesn't matter whether you said it or not, Sue.
for you to write those things and then deny what they are is ......well, I can't think of the right word, but it's not good
Z - No it's not good.
But I have to live with it every day - because I'm bipolar - and I'm not on any medication. I came right out and said that on my first post. But no one seems interested in hearing that.
But some poeple like me enough to not give up on me - because they think I'm worth it.
I could ask my doctor to put me back on medication and he would - but I'm not going to do that.
Do you want to know why Z?
Because - although from day to day is is extremely hard to not be on medication - the difference is:
before -
i was blind
but now I see.
and because of that...
I'm in this for the long haul -
and either someone is for me - or they are against me.
there is no turning back.
Sue, there are other people in the world and they deserve goodness and kindness and understanding, too.
I wish you peace
Z - Really?
I didn't know that.
I thought I was the only person in the world.
I thought the world revolved around me.
I'm glad you straightened it out for me.
surely somebody's told you that before
No - I've never had that discussion with anyone before.
But I do know that I have a self-
centeredness - and sometimes wonder where it comes from.
And honestly - Z - from the 'encounters' we've had here - when you've said Sue you are not my only commenter - I've thought that Wow - I am pretty self-centered.
But I'm still not sure why. Certainly I've never had any reason to be.
:)
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