“When one prays in strange places and at strange times one can’t kneel, to be sure. I won’t say this doesn’t matter. The body ought to pray as well as the soul. Body and soul are both the better for it….But for our body one whole realm of God’s glory–all that we receive through the senses–would go unpraised. For the beasts can’t appreciate it and the angels are, I suppose, pure intelligences. They understand colours and tastes better than our greatest scientists; but have they retinas or palates? I fancy the ‘beauties of nature’ are a secret God has shared with us alone. That may be one of the reasons why we were made–and why the resurrection of the body is an important doctrine.”

C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm, 17-18.

Here Lewis riffs on the importance of our bodies. First, that our posture in prayer is relevant–we pray differently in different postures.

Second, that it is by our bodies that our souls experience the physical beauty around us, and it is by our bodies that this beauty is praised. Uniquely praised when compared to the limits of animals and angels.

Third, these truths seem to be so important, that they are rationale for God deciding to make humans in the first place, and for raising their bodies up again in the future.

So, take care of your body. Listen to it–it teaches truths about God, about ourselves, about how we are different from animals and angels. Experience deeply the material beauty and goodness all around you. And give God praise–because you are uniquely equipped for this–it’s why you were made, and why you’ll be raised.

God be praised.