All articles
Caring for Your Body•7 min read

What a Long-Lived Island Can Teach Us About a Better Life

If you are a Christian, you understand that that is not necessary for your life to be valuable. We know that even if our life ends today in the flesh, the spiritual world and its eternal nature lies beyond.

By Kris EmersonEpisode 75 · Island of IcariaOriginally aired 2019Article adapted 2026
Key takeaways
In fact, recent research suggests that the life expectancy rate on our beautiful island of Acaria has actually decreased a bit, as, and you probably could guess this, the island has become more popular and companies are shipping in processed food.
It's not about saying, I think I'm gonna eat a little better today, get thirty minutes of exercise, take a little nap, clean out my schedule some, and go spend time with friends.
The best thing that happens every day is when you interact with people that you love, when you spend time with your church family, when you celebrate your common belief, when you teach things and learn things and grow together.

Pay attention to the pattern

If you are a Christian, you understand that that is not necessary for your life to be valuable. We know that even if our life ends today in the flesh, the spiritual world and its eternal nature lies beyond.

But I reiterate, in the meantime, I am interested in living a long and healthy, happy and joyful life.

What the body teaches us

In fact, recent research suggests that the life expectancy rate on our beautiful island of Acaria has actually decreased a bit, as, and you probably could guess this, the island has become more popular and companies are shipping in processed food. By creating a culture in our home and among our friends and family of eating better, that's going to be a big step.

Here's the second thing, and you probably saw this coming, we always talk about diet and exercise, they live very active lifestyles.

Build a sustainable response

Whatever you plan to do today, journal it in the morning, but leave space in between for maybe a nap, for instance, or just reflection time or prayer time or study time. One thing that really struck me about the citizens on the island of Icaria is most of them do not have watches.

They get up in the morning, they go by the sun or whatever, they head to work, they usually don't start work super early, they shut the town down mid-afternoon.

Take the next step

Things happen that are outside of our control, things happen that are just downright unfair in the natural world. But if God sees fit to extend time to me, I want to make the most of it, and I want to enjoy it with the people that I love.

It's not about saying, I think I'm gonna eat a little better today, get thirty minutes of exercise, take a little nap, clean out my schedule some, and go spend time with friends.

Think about it

Take the idea with you.

  1. 01Where does the central idea of “What a Long-Lived Island Can Teach Us About a Better Life” show up most clearly in my life right now?
  2. 02What does this episode call me to believe, stop, start, or handle differently?
  3. 03What is one specific action I can take today instead of merely agreeing with the idea?
From Excel Still More

Listen to the original episode

This article was adapted from Episode 75 · Island of Icaria. Continue with the podcast for the original teaching in Kris’s voice.

Listen to This Episode
Continue deeper

Explore books by Kris Emerson

Go beyond a single article with Christ-centered books and daily resources designed for Scripture, spiritual growth, and practical discipleship.

Browse the books