Revelations From The Gym - Part Three: Odd Activities

I have been going to the gym and I have been getting spiritual understanding from the physical activities there.

The last one I want to share is the fact that, at the gym, we do things that seem to make no sense, but there is a purpose behind it.

We pick things up...then put them back down in the exact same spot.  Repeatedly.

We pull wires that raise black disks off the ground, only to return them to their original position.

We run, walk and bike but never move from the spot we started in.

We say we are building muscle but we leave the building in much the same way we came in. 

This would seem almost insane to anyone who did not understand the long term purpose of exercise.

I wonder if people think the same thing about those of us who attend church, sing, clap, shout, read our bibles, pray and share our faith!

It must look ridiculous!

Why do we do it?

For much the same reason as physical exercise!  We are building long term spiritual strength and health.

The activities themselves only serve the greater purpose of growth and development, otherwise, why bother?

When I go to the gym, I have a clear purpose.  

It's NOT to look good, show off or meet people. (I often don't speak to anyone!)

I have a goal of physical development and health, building a strong heart and losing excess weight.

It's my hope that the people who are employed there and who have experience in physical health will share that wisdom with me when I ask, and encourage me to be better and excel!

I think if we understood the reasons why we do Christian activity it would go a long way towards putting more meaning and energy behind what we do, and in the end, the benefits will be evident, both to ourselves and those around us!

Revelations From The Gym - Part Two: The Mirror

As I continue to observe the spiritual aspects of going to the gym, one has stood out.

The mirror is not a workout machine, but it gets a lot of use none the less.

I see in the bible that James compared the word of God to a mirror. (James 1:22-25 for you Bible nerds like me.)

If that's true, then something else I have noticed is also true...

The mirror is a also a source of PRIDE, depending on how you look at it.

At the gym, especially in the locker room, there is a lot of posing and selfie activity.

I watched one day as a guy flexed with one hand and snapped a picture of himself with his phone in the other!

The same thing happens out on the work out floor, people admire their progress regularly in the huge wall to wall mirrors.

This can be true of the bible.

There is a danger that we read the bible and look at our lives and think, wow, I am doing so good, way better than others!  I've got it all together man, what is wrong with you other people?

Instead of looking at the mirror to see an honest reflection of who we are and what needs improving, we use that as a measuring stick for how better we are than others.

Do you agree?

Revelations from The Gym - Part One: Come As You Are

I have been going to the gym now for a while.  

I mostly use the treadmill because I want to see a thinner shadow when the sun finally decides to melt the snow.

While I am on the treadmill, many thoughts pass through my mind.  Some are even very deep!

Like the other day, I realized three distinct things about church and spiritual growth.

I am going to lay them out in separate blogs.

The first is about the types of people who stroll into the gym, and by extension, into church.

This though came to me as I began to notice that, there are some people who come to the gym like it's a fashion show.  They have the best workout clothes and even have makeup on!  They look like the gym is the last place they need to be right now.  They have it all together.

Then there are people who, like me, need a lot of work!  They are not the super-fit or the most healthy, they are there to turn into the other people who seem to be perpetually ripped.

These are the people I like most.  Because I can relate.

I think the gym should be filled with folks who are in need of better health.  Good for them for coming in!

It can be intimidating to come and work out because of all the "perfect" people there.

Church is like that that.

The more we can get those in the worse shape in the doors the better.  That's what it's for.

Some gyms advertise that they are a place of "no judgement", and I say AMEN.

Bless you for even coming through the doors, you are now on a journey of transformation.

Get ready to sweat and be encouraged to be better...you can do it!