Reb Rev's Blog

I have written a couple of posts regarding running and fitness. This isn’t going to become a fitness blog, but I plan to write a little more in this area.

As is the case with many folks, I “used to be” in pretty good shape. Then I woke up twenty years later and found out just how unfit I was. I went with one of my classes on a mountain hike up Mt. Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Asheville. I’ll spare you the ugly details, but I didn’t make it to the top. I determined then that if I was going to continue to teach that class (which I did) I would make it to the top of the mountain the next year or die trying. Moses died on Mt. Pisgah, maybe Bob would too! J

At that same time, a totally separate thing happened. A very dear friend of mine in the ministry, who was just a little older than me, died of congestive heart failure.

So, just about 2 years ago I started this journey of regaining some level of physical fitness. This week I ran 2 ½ miles in 31 min and am looking forward to running in the Oak Island 5k in April. Then, my goal is an 8k in the fall and a 10k next spring. Those aren’t audacious goals, but they are attainable.

Now, before I go on (for those who have never met me) let me tell you I still do not look like an athlete. I am 5’7″ ish and over 235 lbs (I won’t say how far over). I tell you that because so often we have folks who could grace the cover of “Fit” Magazine telling us about fitness and we think, “I’ll never look like that.” And, most often you’re right! On the other side of the coin, I had one of my students tell me, “I’ve always mistaken being thin for being fit – it’s not the same!” And, she is right.

So, if I can be a voice of encouragement for someone, let me offer this. Set a goal. Is there a mountain you want to climb, a distance you want to run, or some other goal? Set it, set your sights on it and don’t forget it. Being fit is partially a spiritual matter. We are never to worship our bodies, but God has given us this body in which to dwell during whatever time He allows on this earth. We should be good stewards of all that God has given us – including our bodies.

Paul commends us in I Corinthian 6:20 to glorify God in our body and in our spirit. Hang in there, you can do it . . .

This entry was posted on January 8, 2009 at 12:07 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.