“Move It Or Lose It”Love it. Move it or lose it.
Although I have enjoyed outdoor walking for years, I never thought I would join a gym. The term “workout” had absolutely no appeal to me. But over the past several years, I have come to enjoy a variety of classes and activities and probably feel better physically than when I was younger. Recently, I wasn’t able to do my usual routine for a couple of weeks and quickly began to feel the effects. I was actually more tired and grumpy and had less JOY. It made me realize that when I don’t MOVE my body, I LOSE the physical benefits — and much more.
In our SPIRITUAL LIFE it is also true that we need to “move it or lose it.” Our faith can be vibrant and life-giving. Yet if we slack off and forego our workouts it won’t be long before we experience the loss.
We can flex our spiritual muscles in many ways. God didn’t create us all the same. We have unique and individual gifts and we can use them to become closer to HIM and to share HIS LOVE with others.
Spiritual workouts are only complete when we apply what we are learning to our relationships. Exercising forgiveness, acceptance, peace, and compassion can build our spiritual muscles, but it requires effort and humility. Serving others can be uplifting-- or it can be challenging -- particularly when helping another person is inconvenient and we just don’t feel like it. St. Paul reminds us that “Faith without actions is dead.” (James 2:26)
However, for many of us the most challenging spiritual “activity” of all is to respond to the invitation, “BE STILL and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Although my mother, Irene Gay, was quadriplegic and unable to move physically, she worked her spiritual muscles everyday, spreading God’s love at the chronic care hospital where she spent the last ten years of her life. She was a faithful member of both the Catholic and Protestant communities and was very involved in hospital activities from her power wheelchair and portable respirator. She touched the lives of many people. When she passed away, we had cards printed to distribute at her funeral. The verse was from 2 Timothy 4:7 and seemed to be a statement of her purposeful life: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.”
Yes, Irene was a woman who could flex her spiritual muscles!
Lord,
Teach us new and creative ways to stretch and tone both our bodies and our spirits. Encourage us to “fight the good fight” as we exercise our spiritual gifts. Move us to “keep the faith” and experience the JOY of sharing it with others. Challenge us to “...run
the race which is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...” Amen.
(Hebrews 12:1b, 2)
Many times in my life I stopped "exercising" my faith. It was there underneath all my busyness or something else was keeping me away. Like serving people when we sometimes don't feel like it - I had to muster up the drive to pray, serve and get closer to God when I didn't feel like it. Eventually, He saves me from the nothing I've become.
Kyrie Eleison!
UPDATE: Complaints from the peanut gallery on the video. I knew there would be a push back! I'd been listening to gregorian chant and went for a change. The images in the video I don't care for but the lyrics and music, I actually like.
ow can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I’ve become so numb, without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become
now that I know what I’m without
you can't just leave me
breathe into me and make me real
bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become
frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead
all this time I can't believe I couldn't see
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought without a voice without a soul
don't let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become
(Bring me to life)
I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside
(Bring me to life)
A friend casually sent this video along -- which is absolutely one of my favorites of all time. From White Christmas...enjoy.
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