Still waiting...

Still waiting….

I have often tried to encourage participants in my exercise class by praising them for doing something for themselves. I have pointed out that while you can pay someone to do a whole lot of things for you- no one can exercise for you. It is something that you have to do for yourself. You can believe in the value of exercise all you want, but it is only in doing it that you will reap rewards. (I think if someone could figure out how to exercise for someone else and transfer the benefits, there would be a booming business.)

Another aspect of exercise is that you have to increase the intensity of your exercise if you want to continue seeing results. If you lift weights, at some point you need to either increase repetitions or the amount of weight. If you are doing cardio, it’s a good idea to change up your routine from time to time.

Last night someone pointed out that stepping out in faith is kind of like exercising your beliefs. You may say you believe in God, but until you actually step out to the point of needing God, your faith is pretty neutral. Once you begin exercising your faith that is when your relationship with God can grow stronger or fit.

I have to say at this point in life I am better at exercising my body than my faith. I have been exercising pretty consistently for years. For the most part I know what I can do, how to listen to my body. I am not obsessive about it but I like to do something several times a week.

I am a little more timid in exercising my faith. Right now I am going on month 3 of somewhat of a sabbatical. I resigned as the fitness coordinator. I dropped teaching my cycling and yoga classes at the gym. But I am still teaching some yoga classes and my silver sneakers classes. I felt led to resign even though I did not have a firm direction for what was next. I have about as many good days as bad. Good is when I feel peaceful and know that God has got this. Bad is when I go on-line and apply for 3 jobs not really asking God, just figuring I need to do something?

I realize that for some people exercise can be uncomfortable. For those that exercise consistently though, we feel better when we exercise. It actually gets enjoyable when you have an activity that gets your heart pumping. I enjoy working up a sweat and it feels so good when I’m done.

This faith building for me right now is extremely uncomfortable. I am hoping that I will be able to look back and say, that’s when I started making it a habit. I want to get to a point where my faith gets stronger and that I enjoy a challenge to keep it fit. I see examples around me of those that make this exercise of faith look easy- but sure enough those that make it look easy have been doing it more consistently and usually longer than I have.

Maybe that’s why I am still waiting. Maybe the discomfort is building a little strength in my faith. I hope so.