|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Print Well, I did it. Last night I bit the bullet and joined a local women’s-only gym. Not because I want to workout, not because I enjoy physical activity, and not even because I’m overweight. I’m under 30, in reasonably good health, and in what would be considered a target weight range for my height and age. So why join? The reason to exercise for me is simple—I just can’t shop as long as I used to. Last weekend I couldn’t make it through the mall without being completely exhausted. What’s a girl to do? OK, so lack of shopping stamina isn’t the only reason I joined, but it really did motivate me to realize how out of shape I really am. If I’m this winded and exhausted at this stage of my life, how much worse is it going to get if I don’t do something to change it? My energy level certainly isn’t going to change itself. When I went to the gym, the trainer asked me why I was there. Lack of energy and strength was my answer. With a baby girl about to learn to walk, a husband who stays fit through a very physically active job, and more children planned for the future, I’ll never be able to keep up with the family if I don’t start exercising. My family health history plays a big role in helping me to decide to get fit. Yesterday my father went into the hospital for the umpteenth time for an angioplasty for the doctor to check out what is causing heart pain even after two stints have been put in his heart. Dad’s heart problems are in addition to his diabetes and high cholesterol. Mom got her health scare about two years ago when she was told she would have to be on high blood pressure medicine and high cholesterol medicine for the rest of her life if she didn’t do something about her health. She opted to join Weight Watchers and started exercising. The result was she lost 60 pounds, didn’t have to be on permanent medication, and is in way better shape than I am. The gym I joined says you need to come for 30 minutes a day at least three times a week to complete their program of combined strength-training and cardiovascular workout. Sadly, I could not even make it for 30 minutes. But I know I’ll be able to work up to it soon, as long as I stick with this. Why is it that we hate to do the very things that will give us a better quality of life? My reasons for not exercising are the same reasons I use to not do the things that would make my spiritual life healthier as well—I’m too tired, too busy, and just don’t want to do it. That’s just embarrassing when you write it down and see it in black and white. How much better would my walk with God be if I committed to 30 minutes with Him, at least three times a week? Right now, my walk with Him is more like the “lifestyle workout” you may have heard of. This workout states that if you just take the stairs rather than the elevator, park further from the store and walk, and go up and down every aisle in the grocery store even if you don’t need the items on that aisle, then your lifestyle is your workout and nothing extra is needed. I tried doing that for a while (it’s a lot cheaper than joining a gym), but it just didn’t work for me. It’s the same with walking with the Lord. Sure, you should do extra little things throughout the day to connect with Him. After all, Paul tells us to pray without ceasing and David tells us to meditate on His law day and night. But I think you also need to have some good, quality time with Him, where He is your only focus. If you do that, then your spiritual muscles are going to become stronger and your walk with God will become closer than before. The gym says to sit down with your schedule and plan out which times during the week you’re going to come and work out. I think I’ll start doing the same thing with God, and schedule “focused” time with Him. It seems overwhelming to fit two more things into my already overloaded schedule. But if I don’t take care of my body and my spirit, then everything else I do isn’t going to be done to the best of my ability and won’t be as enjoyable to me or to others than if I have had my time with the Lord and the gym. With me, it’s not the actual act of exercising or the act of praying that I look forward to. That latter statement probably sounds a bit sacrilegious, but hear me out. With exercise, it’s the end result or the benefits that I look forward to, like having more energy and being able to open my own jars. It’s the same with prayer, fasting, and reading the Bible. It’s not the act itself that will improve my walk with Him. It’s the benefits from the act, like hearing His voice more clearly and knowing His Word by heart. Well, after writing this, I feel very motivated to improve the quality of my life by exercising both my physical and my spiritual muscles. Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to keep you posted on my progress, and maybe motivate you a little along the way to improve your life as well! ninetyandnine.com © 2004, ninetyandnine.com and this anonymous blogger ----------
|
|
|
