You are what you eat - aren't you?

There may be some decisions that people make that effect only themselves - but they are few and far between! "No man is an island", said John Donne, and he was absolutely correct. Whether I like it or not, I am my brother's keeper! (see Gen.4:9).

Those thoughts came to me when I read, in today's newspaper, of Donna Simpson, a 42-year-old mother of two who is currently the world's fattest mother as recorded by the Guinness Book of Records. When, three years ago, she gave birth to her second child, she weighed in at more than 37 stones and, since then, she has managed to put almost 6 stones more! Her stated aim is to reach 1,000 pounds (just short of 72 stones!).

To pay for her food bill of some $750 (£450) per week, she has set up a web-site by which (sad) people pay to watch her eat, and wash.

So why shouldn't this woman gorge herself to such gross obesity? I think that her own body could do with some consideration. It certainly wasn't designed to carry that amount of excess weight around. Indeed, even the mobility scooter that she uses probably wasn't designed for such punishing use!

Then there are her children. The elder of the two, is reported as being 14 years of age. Has his mother ever given any consideration to what he might have to handle at school? Children can be notoriously cruel to one another, and this woman is providing plenty of ammunition. Additionally, her eating habits, and her weight, indicate that she will not live to see a ripe old age. I wonder has she given any consideration to the children who will be left without a mother?

Even her husband who, according to one report, likes large women (!!) must surely be concerned about the size of his wife, and wonder for how long he will have her with him.

And, of course, there are the taxpayers of her native New Jersey. They, I imagine, will be left to pick up the tab if/when her children need to be taken into care. Those sad people who have nothing better to do with their time and money than to watch her, and pay her for the 'privilege' are also effected - if only by having this opportunity to satisfy there own unusual desires!

In my opinion, this woman has serious psychological problems, and it is to be hoped that someone will step in and offer her the help that she so obviously needs. In a world in which thousands die of starvation every day, it is sad to see this one woman having such a strange goal in life! I wonder if she has ever read from Paul's letter to the disciples of Jesus in the Roman colonial city of Philippi: "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." (3:19)?