Tip of My Iceberg

I don’t have access to exercise equipment at home. I walk when the weather is viable–right now, Florida is a living, breathing sauna. On days when the weather is unbearable, I rebound inside, immersed in Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

It works for me.

We’re at a conference in Milwaukee, and the hotel has a fitness center. A remarkable opportunity to stretch my workouts to new heights.

That’s what I thought.

Each piece of equipment is set up to allow the user to program a workout. I had a bit of an inflated view of what I could accomplish. When I began, I plugged in a distance, speed, and terrain that I believed I should be able to do. I exercise regularly, so I believed I was being appropriate with my input.

There are those who may say I set the bar too high. I believe that pushing myself is necessary for me to achieve what I think I should be doing.

Others may say I’m not very self-aware.

I began my workout with confidence and energy, determined to finish well. About halfway in, I discovered I’d bitten off more of the exercise cookie than I could chew.

I was disappointed in myself.

We hear constantly advice on how to keep ourselves healthy–what we need to be aware of, how we should eat and exercise, how to keep our minds sharp, and how to learn to destress.

We’re really not limited, however, to physical and mental health. The world is challenging, with demands on our bodies, minds, and souls. If we merely focus on our bodies and minds, we’re only partially taking care of who we are. Our souls–our heart issues–impact every area of our lives. yet our focus on this particular area of who we are is often lacking.

Jesus came to help us grow to be the best us God made us be. He created us in His image, to be known and loved by Him, helped by Him to handle the difficulties life brings our way,

We are often tripped up by the confusion and divisiveness of our world, where people are critical of others because we’re different. Our reality is that we all need one another, caring for one another selflessly.

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the INSIDE OUT. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, and develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:3

I often wonder if I’m settling for less than I should be. I see my mistakes, the areas where I’m unkind to others, not caring about what others think or say. I know God wants to grow me in areas that are not always easy.

Spiritual workouts help us develop hearts of compassion and a better understanding of how to live a life of kindness and courage, The power of God in us makes us better.

That’s an exercise that always makes a difference in our lifestyles.