The Metabolism of Love

Yesterday Mike, who’s of similar age and decrepitude to me, was describing his diabetes, sleep apnoea, varying tests, conversations with doctors, hospital visits… and his ‘mentabolism’. I asked if he meant his ‘metabolism’. We joked about his mental state, that other tests that might be necessary to confirm his sanity – or otherwise…

I remembered my annual physical check-up a few months ago. I’d had the usual tests, answered questions about my general state, stood on the scales… ‘I think I’ve put on a few pounds,’ I volunteered.

‘It’s just your metabolism,’ the nurse told me… So I  don’t need to excuse or apologise for my increasing weight or girth; there’s a scientific, medical reason for it! I’m still smiling!

Yesterday’s conversation with Mike made me reflect again on my metabolism. I looked it up… My ‘metabolism’ is how my body turns food and drink into energy for essential body functions like breathing and digestion, movement… It comes from a Greek word for ‘change’.

So metabolism is about this process of change… Something goes into my body; there’s change, ‘metabolism’; there’s an output.

Apparently ‘metabolism’ can refer to more than just the physiological. The input may be an event, a relationship; there’s ‘metabolism’ as I process the experience; the result is new thoughts, attitudes or actions.

Today, February 14^th, is Valentines Day. Yesterday evening, passing our local supermarket, I noticed a number of men with bunches of flowers. Perhaps there’s metabolism in love that changes men, leading to particular flower-buying behaviour.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s song describes this change:

Love, love changes everything
Hands and faces, earth and sky
Love, love changes everything
How you live, and how you die…

As I get older I need to keep changing. My metabolism – probably my mentabolism too – needs to keep active. As friendships and life experiences continue to come into my life they need to pass through the changing metabolism of love – as well as faith and hope – to affect my thoughts, words and actions for the good.