OCTOBER 2023

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Drops of Blood

Anxiety and depression are prevalent in our culture. If you do a quick search, you’ll find various stats on this, but they all are pointing to higher numbers. The trend is not going in a good direction. Chances are you have had some anxiety and depression.

It’s hard to believe that the most prosperous country in the world can have the highest levels of anxiety and depression. But maybe that’s the root cause? Maybe all of this prosperity, this stuff, is connected to our depression?

I really think the causes are multifactorial. There is certainly a genetic link to anxiety and depression, and there are some people who are naturally a little more anxious than the average. I know I’ve been anxious before. I still get a little anxious every time I go to the dentist. I have some not-so-fond memories as a child in the dental chair.

I’ve also been depressed before. Life happens, people die, things do not work out like you plan. I think everyone has been depressed or anxious at one time or another. It’s part of being human.

I see so many people who are paralyzed by anxiety and depression. It’s one of the tools of our spiritual enemy. He wants us to live in fear and timidity, but that’s not what we were created for. We were created to be conquerors. We are a royal priesthood. We are children of the King. We should live in victory. Our Messiah defeated death on the cross, and we are free from its sting.

I believe it’s what we do with our depression and anxiety that matters. We can choose to let it control us, or we can follow our Messiah. He certainly was stressed out in the garden the night of his arrest: “And in his anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

(I have never sweated like drops of blood before.)

Did you catch that? In his anguish, he prayed more, he prayed more earnestly. In his darkest hour, he prayed. He was giving up his will to the Father’s will. I believe this is one of the keys to living a life free from the control of anxiety and depression. I think we will all continue to have some anxiety and depression, but we do not have to let it control us.

I do believe our prosperity makes it harder for us today than a few decades ago. It increases our levels of temptation. Mainly the temptation of putting “stuff” in the center of our heart. I do believe this is one of the core drivers of our anxieties. When we have anything other than our Messiah at the center of our hearts, the center of our being, we will be less than good.

The lure of the things of this world is a promise of happiness or contentment. It’s the same temptation first recorded in the garden with Grandpa Adam. The temptation is to have things our way, to satisfy desires our way. “You do you, and I will do me” is one of the themes of our culture today. “Whatever feels right in my heart should be accepted by others” is another common theme of our culture.

I think you can see how this is working out for us. This idea that we can have anything or be anything our hearts desire is causing untold amounts of grief and trauma. God’s blueprint for our lives involves an idea of being holy, being set apart. He has given us guides and examples to follow with Christ being the prime example. It’s when his will is at the center of our hearts that we can flourish.

When we are holy, set apart, we are weird. We are not like our culture. We should stand out from our culture by how we live and control our bodies. We must tame our flesh and bring it under control of our spirit. Wasn’t this one of the mandates God gave man? “Fill the earth and subdue it!” Our flesh is part of this world. We must start with it before we can subdue anything else.

There are ancient rituals or practices that our elder brothers and sisters practiced that helped them control the flesh and subdue the world. We really do not speak much of them in our day. I’m not sure why we don’t practice these ancient customs. One of these is fasting. Fasting is teaching our bodies that we are more than flesh. It’s a practice where our spirit is in control. It’s a practice to help us keep the things of our Messiah in the center of our hearts. The other ancient custom that helped our elders connect with the Eternal was the practice of the Sabbath. This teaches our flesh to stop producing, to rest. To connect with the Eternal through contemplation and gratitude.

Could it be possible that practicing these old customs could lessen our anxieties? I believe they would be helpful for most of us and I would imagine they have fewer side effects than the medications we prescribe to treat anxiety and depression. I’m not trying to guilt trip anyone for being anxious or depressed. I think we all can fall into this category. And I believe there is a place for medication. But I do think these practices can help all of us.

The next time you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, stop and pray earnestly. As a preventive measure, consider practicing a fast once a week. Maybe fast a meal or a whole day. When you have those hunger pains, remind yourself who is in control. Consider practicing a Sabbath, a day of rest, and focusing on gratitude.

Do not let your anxiety control you. Use it as a reminder to check your heart and to earnestly pray just as Jesus did.

Author: Dr. Curtis Brown

VO2 Max

There are lots of ways to measure how healthy you are. Some of the more obvious ones are your blood pressure, various blood tests, and your weight. Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the essential things for your overall health and wellness.

When you look at insurance standards for height and weight, there is a reason the “skinny” ones get a preferred rate. The skinnier you are, the longer you live. Now, this obviously is not always true, but it’s often true.

Another measure that can predict your overall health and longevity is your VO2 max. This is a measurement of how much and how well your body uses oxygen. The higher the number, the better it is. There is a strong genetic component to this, but it can be influenced by weight loss and exercise.

It’s a little difficult to get this measured. Usually, you must go to a lab and do a stress test that measures your oxygen consumption. Recently with the advent of all these smart watches and other gadgets, you can get a close approximation. You can increase your VO2 max by losing weight and by incorporating high intensity interval training.

I have a Garmin Fenix watch, and it estimates my VO2 max. Other watches can do the same thing. You can compare your VO2 max levels to other people your age. You can also use it to see how well your workouts are helping you over time. My levels move around some but have been fairly consistent.

The highest recorded VO2 max was in 2012 by a young athlete named Oskar Svendsen. His was 96.7, which is incredible! The average for an NFL player is in the upper fifties. Sports with the highest average VO2 are usually the endurance sports, such as cycling, running, and cross-country skiing.

One can find various charts that have average numbers based on age and sex. For instance, average for men my age (the youth of old age!) is 30–31. Average for guys half of my age is 40–42. Men generally have higher numbers than women, but some women have high numbers.

Usually, your highest score will be when you’re in your twenties. Like other things, it’s downhill from there.

Knowing your numbers can assist you in training if you’re planning an endurance event. It can also be helpful in determining your overall health. Some recent studies have shown a correlation to your VO2 max and longevity. It’s probably because the higher VO2 numbers are also associated with lower body weights.

Having said all this, it still comes down to eating less and doing more! It can be interesting and even helpful information, but probably the best thing to keep an eye on is your weight. Less is more!

Author: Dr. Curtis Brown