It was in the early 1980s when I began watching Dr. Timothy Johnson on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” I was a college student at the time and most everyone living on the all-girls floor in Bixby Hall seemed loyal to the American Broadcasting Company and most particularly Luke and Laura on “General Hospital.” On weekdays at noon kids hurried back from classes to watch what was then the coolest soap opera on the airways.
It was all new to me. My family members were news hounds and “The Today” program was our early morning news source. When I moved to college I accommodated to the crowd and quickly switched my loyalties to “Good Morning American” which then featured David Hartman, Joan Lundun, Julia Child and Dr. Timothy Johnson.
Dr. Johnson was a pioneer, for he chose various medical issues to report about then he offered viewers his own opinion, despite regular criticism. Naysayers believed he should allow viewers to reach their own conclusions. He disagreed, saying that his experiences as a physician would help viewers work through the complexities associated with medical care. His longevity is evidence as to his success. We listened, learned we could count on his wisdom, and felt like we were at least pointed in the right direction.
What I did not learn until much later is the fact that Dr. Timothy Johnson has a degree in theology as well. Before attending medical school Johnson was a seminarian and it was his class in pastoral education, requiring him to visit people in the hospital, that eventually lead to his fascination with how intricately interwoven are our souls and bodies. In fact, this Harvard medical school lecturer and minister says that it is his observation that people who regularly attend religious services live longer, healthier lives. They are less likely to indulge in self-destructive behaviors as well.
When he noticed similarities between the ways good pastors related to their parishioners and the ways good doctors ministered to their patients, he caught the vision for how he could fuse the two.
Johnson has concluded that body and soul are one entity and what is good for one is usually good for the other. He moves one step further by suggesting that we daily keep lifestyle choices in mind as we manage our body and soul issues.
This week Johnson has been reporting about the cantaloupe listeria outbreak that has sadly killed 13, but he regularly urges viewers to be mindful of America’s biggest killer: obesity. He points out that it is nearly impossible to maintain a healthy weight unless we are mindful of the quality and quantity of our food intake. He also preaches the need for each one of us to make it a daily habit to walk, run, dance, swim, lift weights or participate in other activities that get us moving and sweating.
While the challenges associated with the obesity fight continue, the tools available improve almost daily. I will highlight a few next week, for faithful living means living our best and it takes daily effort.
