My wife and I were doing some Christmas shopping recently. She asked me to select a game “for the whole family” while she looked at toys for the young grandchildren. There really is quite an overwhelming selection of games from which to choose these days.
Being the fitness guy that I am, my eyes eventually moved to Twister. That is the game where you put a large plastic mat with brightly colored dots on the floor and one spin at a time, everyone stretches and gets tangled. That’s the game of Twister I knew.
You can still find it. However now there are new versions of Twister to help you stretch even further like Twister Hoopla and Twister Hopscotch.
Easily overwhelmed by so many choices (and now thirty minutes later) I rejoined with my wife. While I had nothing to show for my time, it was mission-accomplished for her. She had a cart full of toys ready for me to take and put in layaway while she proceeded to the grocery section.
HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT THIS?
Five non-refundable dollars later I too had participated in one of America’s most popular forms of stretching. Despite my determination to stay within budget I was shopping beyond the range of what I could spend right now. Stretching your body or your spirit requires an act of your will. You have to WANT to do it.
This whole concept that God has given us a self-will that is exclusively in our control is something that I learned at an early age. It is key to framing the depth of the Christian faith. Recently though I’ve stretched my understanding further. By defining and better understanding my range of motion I can stretch further with confidence. Let me explain.
I watched two guys at the gym last week attempt to do a shoulder exercise with free weights. They were using light weights and going really fast. Their poor form could easily lead to injury and ultimately the momentum of their body motion engaged several other muscles besides the intended shoulder. It’s obvious to most observers that their good intentions won’t get them the results they want. Going through the motions may look good and even feel good but staying in the comfort zone is pretty much a waste.
Exercising your spirit and will needs to be just as obvious to you. People practicing the Christian faith often do it (or rather I should say don’t do it) by invoking the, “If it is God’s will” phrase and mentality.
That sounds good and may even look good but come on! God’s will IS your will exercised, stretched and continually following good form within the broad range of motion God defines. If you really embrace this “Christian” way of living you’re going to discover it is a no-excuses approach to going further --- a lot further.
In the December 2011/January 2012 issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine you’ll see how others do exactly that and make a positive impact on others. They’ve discovered that God’s will isn’t hard to do and they’re doing it. You can too.
Train strong in Christ,
-Brad Bloom, Publisher
