Nehemiah 1:1-4 The Autobiography of Nehemiah, the son of Hecaliah: In December of the Twentieth year of the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, when I was at the palace of Shushan, one of my fellow Jews named Hanani came to visit me with some men who had arrived from Judah. I took the opportunity to inquire about how things were going in Jerusalem. “How are they getting along?” I asked. “—the Jews who returned to Jerusalem from their exile here?” “Well,” they replied, “things are not good; the wall of Jerusalem is still torn down, and the gates are burned.” When I heard this, I sat down and cried. In fact, I refused to eat for several days, for I spent the time in prayer to the God of heaven. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
Sometimes GOD uses a single individual to make a difference in the history of a great nation, such as when GOD used Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt or when David became king of Israel. The book of Nehemiah is an autobiographical account of how one man, a simple cupbearer, prayed that GOD allow him to rebuild the walls of a broken nation and how GOD answered that prayer. One person took action to lay a few bricks in order to rebuild and restore the physical and the spiritual health of a nation.
THE STATE OF OUR CITIES AND NATION
CALIFORNIA
According to a UCLA study released on March 10, 2016, nearly half of California adults, including one out of every three young adults, have either prediabetes---a precursor to type 2 diabetes---or undiagnosed diabetes. The study estimates that some 13 million adults in California or about 46% have prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes, while another 2.5 million adults, or 9%, have already been diagnosed with diabetes. Combined, the two groups represent 15.5 million people ----55% of the state of California’s population.
The study noted that the fact that 33% of young adults---those aged 18 to 39---have prediabetes is of particular concern. One researcher, Dr. Harold Goldstein, executive director of the health advocacy center noted: “This is the clearest indication to date that the diabetes epidemic is out of control and getting worse.” According to Dr. Goldstein:
With limited availability of healthy food in low-income communities, a preponderance of soda and junk food marketing, and urban neighborhoods lacking safe places to play, we have created a world where diabetes in the natural consequence….the state of California must launch a major campaign to turn around the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.
The UCLA study noted that this is a county-by-county crisis and that racial and ethnic differences are pronounced, which there being higher incidences of prediabetes among young Pacific Islanders (43 percent); African Americans (38 percent), American Indians (38 percent), multiracial Californians (37 percent), Latinos (36 percent) and Asian Americans (31 percent)
See, “Majority of California adults have prediabetes or diabetes,” UCLA Newsroom release, http://newsrooom.ucla.edu/releases.
NATIONWIDE
The national statistics on diabetes and prediabetes are equally as grim. There are 29 million Americans who have diabetes and 86 million adults have prediabetes. According to the CDC this is what the national picture looks like:
TAKE ACTION
Both the UCLA study and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that each of us can help. Dr. Goldstein notes: “For most people, type 2 diabetes is entirely preventable.” The CDC recommends the following:
To manage your diabetes:
- Work with a health professional
- Eat Healthy
- Stay Active
To prevent diabetes:
- Lose weight (if you are overweight)
- Eat Healthy
- Be More Active
Like Nehemiah, each of us can make a difference. Each of us can set an example. Each of us can encourage and support someone else’goal to lead a healthier lifestyle. Each of us can say a prayer. Each of us can try to encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle at our places of worship, in our homes, on the job and among our friends and family. Each of us can and must play a role in curbing a national epidemic.
Last Sunday was Resurrection Sunday. After the resurrection, the disciples took action too. Read “The Acts of the Apostles” for yourself, starting with Acts: 1. Like the apostles, pray for the HOLY SPIRIT to lead and guide you.
We are all in this together!
Be prayerful, take action, and Be Blessed!
