Florida Fish & Wildlife Officers used doughnuts to lure a juvenile bear, about 18-months-old and weighing 250 pounds, that had been wandering around Fort Myers for hours.
Treats won out over tranquilizers because drugs don’t work immediately, and wildlife officers didn’t want to risk the young bear darting into traffic. The male was set to be released onto a preserve.*
Arrested by Your Appetite?
During this Coronavirus pandemic, many people have succumbed to their appetites and have begun to overeat, eat un-healthfully, or just start snacking too much. It’s easy to do. People have been confined to their homes—cut off from daily communication, activities, and relationships with others, combined with increased fear, anxiety, and sometimes, just boredom; have used their physical appetites to manage their feelings and literally eat them, instead of more finding healthier and more appropriate ways of managing their emotions.
What Does Bible Say about Gluttony?
The Bible actually has a lot to say about overeating or gluttony, and this won’t be a comprehensive Bible study on the subject.
- Proverbs 23:2 “If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat.”
- Proverbs 23:20, 21 “Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.
- Proverbs 25:16 “Do you like honey? Don’t overeat, or it will make you sick!”
- 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
How to Not “Eat Your Feelings”!
There is a four-pronged strategy involving reaching out instead of in. You see, when most people deal with anxiety, fear, stress, or anything unknown for an extended period, they tend to “turtle”—basically retreat into their proverbial emotional shell and cut out crucial and healthy relationships. The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, insightfully warned us all that: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (17:9, NLT) So, when this begins to happen, force yourself to reach out and connect. Don’t wait until you feel like it—it’s likely that you won’t. Just do it!
So, who do you connect with:
1. God
This is the first and most important strategy. Talk to God through prayer, journaling, and Bible study. He’s a great listener. I promise He can handle whatever you’ve got in your heart. Just start talking, and I promise: you’ll feel better. The Apostle Paul pledged to this prescription for peace: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6, 7, NLT).
2. Yourself
The practice of self-talk is a valuable and important discipline to learn and regularly practice. We tell ourselves numerous things throughout the day. Being more mindful about how we feel about what’s happening to us and around us and how we feel about it is key to learning to monitor, stop, examine, and replace unhealthy, unrealistic, and toxic thoughts and beliefs to replace them with healthier thoughts and beliefs. We have many examples of this in the Bible, but a key instance is when David, running for his life from being hunted by Saul, was emotionally, spiritually, and physically weary, speaks to himself in this way: “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 43:5, NLT).
3. Others
Connecting with others on a regular and daily basis is a healthy practice and will take the focus off of yourself. It’s amazing how powerful sending a quick text, handwritten note, letter, or e-mail—or calling someone—just to check on them, will help you feel better. The wisest person in the entire world gave us this sage advice: “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT).
4. Nature
Making sure to get outside and get some fresh air, sunlight, and exercise daily is key to remaining balanced in your thinking and feeling. Enjoying God’s nature always pays benefits. Every day make sure you get your vitamin “N”!
God Will Bring Your Balance Back
During this challenging time in earth’s history, it’s easy for us to get our appetites out of control, but with God’s help, we can get our eating under control and not be arrested by our appetite. And for goodness sake, if you do enjoy a doughnut from time to time, if you see one in a cage, don’t eat it!
*Downloaded on June 2, 2020, from https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-officers-use-krispy-kreme-doughnuts-to-lure-wayward-florida-bear-20200527-6tyn6jtw35garfq4kacsv77lje-story.html
