I like to run. Wait, let me qualify that. I like to run
in warm, dry weather. I hate being cold so running in the wet winters of Oregon
has always made it a challenge to exercise during the winter months. And, I'm
at an age where I don't really have the option to not exercise if I want to
stay healthy into my old age. I know that my wife would kill me if I died before
her and left her a single mom while I got to enjoy my "mansion on a
hill" in heaven.
I've never in my life worked out at a gym. Those of you
who know me personally can attest to that fact. I'm thin and wiry with no
muscle tone (not that anybody but DeeDee gets to see). I have no pecs. I would
never need a "bro" in Seinfeld terms. I have bad posture, which I'm
told could be helped if I'd buff up those pecs a little. Sadly I've lacked the
discipline and drive to do anything about it. I've also never been able to
overcome inertia to do anything about the sixpack I've always wanted.
Well, the perfect storm hit and I joined a gym. I decided
that since I'm there, running on the treadmill while watching Netflix (which is
a totally awesome way to run on a treadmill), that I would work on my other
muscular deficiencies. I mean, I might as well take advantage of the
opportunity while I have it.
I ache everywhere. And because I work out three times a
week...it never goes away. I don't know how people do it year in and year out.
And I totally recognize that the ache means I am building muscle - which I want
- but I haven't yet gotten to the point where I can see any of the results.
Still no pecs. Still a two-liter instead of a six-pack.
No pain, no gain. Whoever came up with that phrase should
be forced to sit through every opera ever written (unless they like opera, but
I'm thinking the five people in the world who do like opera probably don't hang
out at the gym much).
Of course it's a great metaphor for our spiritual lives.
Our spiritual journey is a marathon that requires us to train in order to make
it across the finish line. Most of our training happens in places where we
don't see the results for years to come. But if we don't train we'll never make
it up the hill at mile five, or across the dessert at mile 19.
We'll never have spiritual abs or pecs, but just remain
flabby and out of shape.
How is your spiritual training going? Are you still on
the couch watching tv? Have you given up because you don't like the ache of a
good spiritual workout? Or because you don't see instant results?
Run the race to win. See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.