When Bodies Are Beautiful

Thoughts from a rested body on a summer day.

Hey, my closest and mostest. It’s been a minute. I told you this would be the most consistently inconsistent newsletter—that’s not always a newsletter—coming your way, and I’m still delivering on that promise.

I’ve missed you.

I’ve had so much to say and so little time to say it. Life is crazy, and ministry work ain’t for the faint of heart. Yet if I’m not writing a little bit each week—just to write, to share what I’m learning, or to encourage you in the Lord in a long-form way—I feel unsettled in my soul. So thank you for being okay with my timing and for continuing to read.

Last week Sophia and I slipped away for a little mom–daughter trip to the beach before she heads to London to study abroad. She leaves this week, and I’m trying to brave myself for that day. She’s never been farther than a 30-minute drive from me, and we really do love each other’s company. I’m going to miss her big.

On the shores of Laguna Beach, facing waves bigger than I’ve seen in some time, the people-watching was wonderful. I found myself smiling the whole time. Even Sophia, who is not a beach person, enjoyed it in her own way. It’s not that I’ve never noticed people at the beach before, but it was as if my eyes were seeing something new and wonderful: men and women, young and old, with different physical abilities, charging the monster-sized waves, getting knocked down, coming up laughing, and going back for more.

These were people who weren’t worried about what their bodies looked like. They were only focused on what their bodies could do. Could they go over the wave, under it, stay under long enough? Would they come up at the right time and find their feet—or would the wave win and have its way?

I watched the lifeguard in his red shirt with a white cross, ready to use his body’s ability to rescue someone who lost theirs. Women surfaced, tugged at their suits, and made quick checks that everything was still tucked in place. Men flipped hair out of their faces, rubbed salt from their eyes, and prepared for the next wave. It was humans vs. the sea—and from my view on the sand, it looked like humans were winning.

Later, as Sophia and I sat on the boardwalk, devouring frozen bananas dipped in chocolate and covered with nuts, we watched the parade of people passing by. One older woman with white hair, Jackie O–style shades, and a body well-loved by time smiled as she showed off her tiny white toy poodle, Jasmine. Jasmine was so light she looked like she was floating an inch above the boards. The dog turned heads, and her owner beamed with pride as they paraded along, bouncing in step with one another.

The woman and her poodle were simply being bodies. One human, one animal, both God-made, enjoying a God-graced summer day.

Yes, summer is almost over. The beaches have survived the dog days. The waves have had their fun with us humans, spitting us out then drawing us back in. But if I could encourage you to do one thing, it would be this: get yourself to a beach—or to any public place where people are enjoying being bodies instead of critiquing them.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, smell the late summer air, then open your eyes and ask the Lord to see the beautiful bodies the way He sees.

I pray you see the joy and wonder of simply being human, made in God’s image, while any lingering urge to critique your body or another’s fades with the summer rays.

So tell me, what’s God been showing you about being an embodied human since we last talked?

Alisa

📣Announcements:

Please hear me - I have no desire for this platform to turn into a sales page. But since so many of you ask if I’ll coach you or can help you on your Jesus loving embodied way, allow me to use the end of these posts to keep you updated on where you can find me and how we can “body build” together :)

1. Strength Made Simple kicks off tonight! You still have time to join this solid six-week strength training program to help you feel better, balance blood sugar and hormones, and boost metabolism. We live in a culture of shrinking bodies (I think another post on this is coming), but instead of shrinking, let’s build! The research is clear: for women in midlife and beyond, strength training is the ticket to empowered health. [Join here.]

2. FREE! Walking Pad (or Pavement) Wednesday’s at 10:30 AM EST are going strong! It’s been so fun to move and worship together around the nation! Come walk with us or move however you want to move—the goal is one thing: to encourage our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls in the Lord. This time of prayerful movement is delightfully dangerous and I’m sure we’re disturbing hell. Set your alarms and don’t miss Save this link and join us midweek! (Replays available for the RW+ community.)

3. Phoenix Classes @ Revelation Wellness Studio: All classes are $10 per class when purchasing a series or $15 drop in. Can’t afford? Pay what you can! No BODY turned away.

   • Tuesdays, 9 AM: Total Body Power - a class to build your strength, feel good, and have some fun while connecting with God and others starts this week! (Register here)

   • Wednesdays, 6 PM: The Stretch Reset — a time to calm and restore your nervous system. (Register here)