Sometimes - well, ok, often - someone else says it better than I.
I highly recommend this editorial by the Most Reverend John J. Myers from today's Star Ledger.
http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2009/11/archbishop_john_j_myers_legisl.html
Jeff
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Staying Fit
Ok, I'll be honest. I hate to exercise. I've never understood what people mean when they say they broke "a good sweat." Yech! And a "good workout" is inevitably followed by sore muscles the following day.
But, while we were on vacation we had a chance to dance and play some organized pool games with the kids. I got talked into joining a "Pool Hokey-Pokey Dance Contest." You know the Hokey-Pokey? You put your right hand in, you put your right hand out... Now imagine a row of slightly overweight dads and moms doing that on the side of a swimming pool while their kids jeer them on. (Yes, I said "jeer.") Well, by the end of the "dance" I was winded. I mean, really winded - after the Hokey-Pokey! That's when I realized just how out of shape I've gotten. And I realized that if I keep on doing what I've been doing until now, I'm guaranteed the same results. So...
After six months (or more) of lethargy, on Monday I faithfully (if grudgingly) made my way to our basement, and plugged the new workout program I bought at Costco into our Wii.
This is a humiliating process! First of all, I had to dig my way past all of the exercise equipment and programs I've tried in the past. Some I've stuck with for a few weeks, some have lasted only one or two workouts. The best have kept my attention and commitment for a few months. Untold dollars worth of stuff testifying to countless failures in my attempt to start and maintain a regular physical fitness regime.
Then, if that wasn't enough, the first thing that this new program asked me to do was create an animated character to represent myself on screen. I had to scroll past three or four young and healthy looking versions before I finally hit upon a character that looked like an appropriately middle-aged, love-handled, squishy tummy me. At least I could dress my animated self in cool workout clothes.
Fortunately, the computerized coach didn't seem very discouraged at all. "Congratulations!" he said. "Looks like you're ready for a GREAT workout!" (Yeah, right.) I chose the lowest intensity setting.
As it turns out, my "20 minute workout" took about 35 minutes to complete. There's a learning curve on this thing, and I had to watch some of the instructional videos twice. On some of the exercises (particularly the running) I didn't quite manage to keep up the pace with my "coach," but he didn't seem to mind. He just kept encouraging me to rest if I needed to, but then get back in the race. "Push yourself a little, and do the best you can." Some of the exercises were just too easy. (I liked those, and wanted to do them again!).
At the end of the workout the "coach" gave me a "Well done," and then showed me my statistics. I'd burned 128 calories! What's better yet, the next day when I did the routine again, I burned 149! How cool is that!
Right now I'm committed to a 30 day program that promises to help me kick-start an ongoing habit of physical fitness. I understand that the first 30 days will be the hardest, and there will be lots of distractions along the way. I'll get busy. I'll feel tired. I'll feel bored. I just plain won't like getting sweaty. But I'm committed to this new routine anyway, because while I find the process difficult, I expect the results to be worth it. I expect to look better, feel better. And, I expect to be able to do the Hokey-Pokey without needing a fifteen minute rest period.
But, while we were on vacation we had a chance to dance and play some organized pool games with the kids. I got talked into joining a "Pool Hokey-Pokey Dance Contest." You know the Hokey-Pokey? You put your right hand in, you put your right hand out... Now imagine a row of slightly overweight dads and moms doing that on the side of a swimming pool while their kids jeer them on. (Yes, I said "jeer.") Well, by the end of the "dance" I was winded. I mean, really winded - after the Hokey-Pokey! That's when I realized just how out of shape I've gotten. And I realized that if I keep on doing what I've been doing until now, I'm guaranteed the same results. So...
After six months (or more) of lethargy, on Monday I faithfully (if grudgingly) made my way to our basement, and plugged the new workout program I bought at Costco into our Wii.
This is a humiliating process! First of all, I had to dig my way past all of the exercise equipment and programs I've tried in the past. Some I've stuck with for a few weeks, some have lasted only one or two workouts. The best have kept my attention and commitment for a few months. Untold dollars worth of stuff testifying to countless failures in my attempt to start and maintain a regular physical fitness regime.
Then, if that wasn't enough, the first thing that this new program asked me to do was create an animated character to represent myself on screen. I had to scroll past three or four young and healthy looking versions before I finally hit upon a character that looked like an appropriately middle-aged, love-handled, squishy tummy me. At least I could dress my animated self in cool workout clothes.
Fortunately, the computerized coach didn't seem very discouraged at all. "Congratulations!" he said. "Looks like you're ready for a GREAT workout!" (Yeah, right.) I chose the lowest intensity setting.
As it turns out, my "20 minute workout" took about 35 minutes to complete. There's a learning curve on this thing, and I had to watch some of the instructional videos twice. On some of the exercises (particularly the running) I didn't quite manage to keep up the pace with my "coach," but he didn't seem to mind. He just kept encouraging me to rest if I needed to, but then get back in the race. "Push yourself a little, and do the best you can." Some of the exercises were just too easy. (I liked those, and wanted to do them again!).
At the end of the workout the "coach" gave me a "Well done," and then showed me my statistics. I'd burned 128 calories! What's better yet, the next day when I did the routine again, I burned 149! How cool is that!
Right now I'm committed to a 30 day program that promises to help me kick-start an ongoing habit of physical fitness. I understand that the first 30 days will be the hardest, and there will be lots of distractions along the way. I'll get busy. I'll feel tired. I'll feel bored. I just plain won't like getting sweaty. But I'm committed to this new routine anyway, because while I find the process difficult, I expect the results to be worth it. I expect to look better, feel better. And, I expect to be able to do the Hokey-Pokey without needing a fifteen minute rest period.
And that's the point, isn't it? I don't particularly like exercise, and it's really REALLY hard for me to get started. But the goal is worth the effort.
So, now that we've talked about my physical fitness, how's your spiritual fitness? The Apostle Paul says this about spiritual fitness in the Bible:
"Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit." 1Tim. 4:7b (Ph)
And how do you do that? By developing a "Spiritual fitness" routine. You've got to feed your soul with good spiritual food (that's a different blog), and stretch your spiritual muscles on a regular basis. You probably know what that takes already: Reading the Bible, spending time memorizing God's Word, worship, prayer, and even fasting.
Sometimes these spiritual habits feel really rewarding, right away. Other times - let's be honest here- they can feel like drudgery. But we need to keep with it, because it's worth it to reach the goal.
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 (NIV)
If you're like me (and if you've read this far, I suspect you are), you may have tried and failed many times to start a daily habit of Bible reading, prayer, or a quiet time with God. Yes, even my "pastor's" bookshelves are lined with devotional guides that were started and never finished.
That's ok! God is the God of 2nd chances, and 9th chances, and 999th chances. If one routine didn't work, try another.
(For me, by the way, I subscribe to a daily devotional I get by email from www.upperroom.com, and another from www.scriptureunion.org. Both are free, and seeing that email in my inbox is a great reminder to start my day by spending a few minutes with God.)
A wise person once said to me, "Don't worry that you've fallen down. If you fall down six times, get up seven."
Ok, that 's bit confusing, but you get the point. If it's been a while since you've been to church, let this be the week you get back into worship. If that Bible on your desk is a little dusty, let today be the day that you pick it up and read a couple of paragraphs (I recommend starting with Luke, and then reading Acts).
It's likely to be hard getting started. But after a while you'll discover that you're changing. You're being transformed. You'll be feeling more joyful and fulfilled. What seemed difficult will be getting easier. You'll have a heightened sense of purpose and well being. You'll feel (and be) closer to God. How cool is that!
By the way, if you need a coach to encourage you, drop me an email. I'll be happy to pray for you and cheer you on. Sometimes it's hard to keep going on your own, and you need a friend to say, "Look how far you've come already. Let's get back in the game. Take it at your own pace, but challenge yourself along the way. Let's finish this together."
And do you know what the best part is? You'll never break a sweat!
Grace and Peace,
Jeff
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