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二○二一年一月二十三日/二十四日                                                                                          Click here for English

心靈健康金字塔

陳浩然牧師

健康身體與你的飲食習慣息息相關,因此有人提出「飲食健康金字塔」的構思,以均衡飲食為目標,建議不同食物的進食比例。金字塔最底層是穀類食物,當佔最高的進食分量;高一層是蔬果類,這類食物含豐富維他命C,多吃有益;再高一層是肉類、家禽、魚、蛋及奶類食物,適量進食,有助攝取鐵質、鈣質和蛋白質;而金字塔的頂尖,是油、鹽及糖等食品,為了健康著想,還是少吃為妙。

人要身體好,飲食就須多留心;同樣,信徒要心靈健壯,也須謹慎選擇精神的食糧(我們的閱讀)。讓我在這裡也建議一個「心靈健康金字塔」,為我們的閱讀選擇作檢視。

金字塔最底層的必然是聖經,這是神向人的啟示,「於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的。」我們每天靈修、團契查經和崇拜聽道等,就是為心靈健康打下穩固的基礎。高一層是其他提供屬靈養分的人、事和物,這方面最普遍的食糧是閱讀屬靈書籍,而我們與弟兄姊妹的交通、崇拜的禮儀、以至個人的獨處退修,都可算是一種「非書本」的屬靈閱讀。再高一層是天父在不同領域的創造,除了文化、藝術、自然、科學及時事外,簡單溫馨的輕鬆小品,也能帶出生活智慧。至於「心靈健康金字塔」的頂層,我們卻要謹慎閱讀——對,那就是網上的訊息,為了你的心靈健康著想,少看也無妨。

我們都知道零食對身體無益,但偏偏又抵不住口感的誘惑,薯片糖果甜品炸物直輸入腸胃,一朝「三高」警報響起,就後悔莫及。同樣,網上雖有不少有用資訊,但令你「手不離(手)機」的,大概是社交媒體的虛擬空間、某某網紅的生活逸事、商家灌輸的消費娛樂資訊,甚至是漫無目的的「網遊」,這一切都會叫你虛度光陰。醫學界已認定油鹽糖類食物對健康的影響,同樣,近年不少研究也指出過度「上網」會增加人的焦慮和壓力感,削弱專注力及加強自我中心的傾向。

零食不是毒藥,我們毋須禁制,但卻應指出其問題,叫人在身體健康的大前提下作聰明的選擇。對於網上閱讀,你花多少時間或選擇甚麼內容,你有你的自由。不過,站在信徒成長的角度,我建議你在「心靈健康金字塔」三個基礎層面上多下點工夫,說不定有一日你會發現,這個從前無比吸引的網上世界,看多了反覺煩厭。祝願大家在疫情中,身體、心靈仍然保持健康壯健。







Pastor's Sharing
Spiritual Health Pyramid
Rev Raymond Chan

Good health is closely related to eating habits. That was why the idea of the Food Pyramid was developed. At the base of the pyramid are grains, which should account for the largest portion of the food intake. Higher up the pyramid are vegetables and fruits. They are rich in Vitamin C and are good for health. Still higher up – meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products. Appropriate amounts of them can help with iron, calcium and protein intake. At the apex is oil, salt, sugar, etc. Stay away from these as far as you can for the sake of good health.

Good health requires that we watch what we eat. Likewise, to be spiritually healthy, believers need to carefully select their spiritual food (what they read). Let me suggest a “Spiritual Health Pyramid,” which will hopefully shed some light on a good choice of reading.

At the base of the pyramid is undoubtedly the Bible. It is God’s revelation to man and is “… useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Our daily devotionals, Bible studies in fellowship and the sermons in worship build up a strong foundation for spiritual health. Higher up the pyramid are other people, matters and objects that provide spiritual nutrients. Here, the most popular is reading spiritual literature. But sharing with brothers and sisters, worship liturgy, and solitude and retreat are also a kind of spiritual reading, albeit without the use of books. Still higher up is the Father’s creation in various realms. In addition to culture, the arts, nature, science and current affairs, simple, heart-warming or cheery pieces can be a source of wisdom. Be careful about reading at the apex, though. Here is a wealth of information from the Internet which, for the well-being of the soul, you would not mind reading less.

We all know that junk food is not conducive to good health. But many of us can hardly resist the enticement of potato chips, candies, desserts and deep-fried food. We finish them all, ending in “three highs” and a good deal of remorse. This is just like excessive web surfing. Although there is a lot of useful information on the Internet, what makes you glued to the mobile phone is usually the virtual space of the social media, celebrity gossips, consumer entertainment information or just aimless “surfing.” All this cause you to waste a lot of time. While medical research has ascertained the harm of oil, salt and sugar to health, a lot of recent research has revealed that excessive web surfing increases the chances of anxiety and pressure, undermines concentration and makes people more prone to self-centeredness.

Junk food is not poison. There is no need to ban it altogether. But we still need to blow the whistle about its problems so that in the interest of good health, we can make a wise choice. As to reading online, how much you read or what you read is entirely your freedom. But from the perspective of spiritual growth, I would propose that you put your effort in the three foundational levels of the Spiritual Health Pyramid. And who knows, you may soon discover that the unmatched lure of the virtual world is just vexation of spirit. May we all stay safe and healthy in body, mind and soul amid the pandemic.