For my weekly writing spot on this site, see the One-Minute Mystic, with a new meditation posted every Monday. Also see The Village, the story of Misty Longings, England's most beautiful village, posted episode by episode earlier this year.       The thing about Jesus is that he was really fit. And today's school children really aren't. Jesus walked around Israel – children today don't even walk round the corner. Jesus strode ahead of his followers as they lagged behind, discussing who was the greatest. Today's children walk together, slowly, discussing who is the fattest. The New Testament bids us run the great race. But today's children have a better idea – they'll watch the great race on telly. One problem is this. Now all our old school playing fields are car parks or housing developments, where exactly does PE take place? OK, there's the large school hall. But apart from being every school's corridor, it is also used for assemblies, school dinners and the Nativity Play with its extensive rehearsals. Apparently 80 per cent of schools manage nearly two hours of PE a week – but it takes place in the school equivalent of a hamster cage. And the reputation of PE teachers is low. These days, they are considered either frustrated spinsters, closet paedophiles or it's the geography teacher filling in for extra cash. Some say the PE teacher should be second only to the Head, and amid a number of possible contenders, it is apparently John Major's greatest regret that we no longer have full time PE teachers in schools. Certainly evidence is beginning to emerge that those who take exercise and experience active team work, perform better academically. And theologically? Now the damage is done, however, everyone's on board with the cause. Jamie Oliver is improving lunches, Sport England are spending plenty of lottery money on school sport initiatives, and desired levels of attainment are becoming clear: First there is physical ability, which means things like walking to school or climbing trees. Second, there is PE, the curriculum subject, testing and stretching the child's physical possibilities. Third, there is school sport, which takes place outside school hours, and ideally becomes sport for life. Britain's two greatest Olympians have clear views. Daley Thompson believes a healthy body is just as important as being able to read, while Sir Steven Redgrave says that sport has lost out to cultural change – and in particular, the use of the car. The biggest shock, however, is that even darts players are getting involved. Phil "The Power" Taylor, not a slim man, has lost two stone, never felt happier for 15 years, and wants to lose another four. He found himself sweating too much in the last world final. Mind, emotion and instinct – the trinity of internal guides we live by, live themselves in strange communion with muscle, tissue and blood. Insight and understanding are a conspiracy of the whole person. And the thing about Jesus is he was really fit – and our children aren't. More writings © Simon Parke