Morphine or Motivation?

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

In the challenges of life how do you make the next step less painful? How do you make the next step count?
It is difficult to know just how many people embrace a “faith and fitness” lifestyle. However, using the daily emails I receive from readers as an indicator, there are several. There is an incredible diversity of people that make up the DNA of this magazine. Take a look at how Mark, Jason, Casey, and Brent inspire those around them to pursue God and wellness. They don’t represent faith in Jesus as a “pain reliever” but rather as life enriched with spiritual vitamins.

Too often the Christian faith is portrayed as morphine. The perception is that God is a potent drug for the relief of severe and agonizing pain.

Mark is a photographer. His work has dramatically illustrated some of the inspiring stories in Faith & Fitness Magazine. As I was developing a feature interview with John Rozmus, Modeling More Than Muscles, we had a “last minute” need for a photographer. Here is where Mark’s story becomes spiritually inspiring: with nothing more than a promise from me for nominal compensation he drove several hundred miles and invested more than twelve hours within just a few days of me making the request. His example underscores an essential truth: Motivation requires action. It is grounded in the simple Bible perspective that faith without works is dead. For too many people their faith is dead. When given the opportunity to love God faithfully they don’t act. If you feel you lack motivation you need to look no further than the last time you failed to act. Don’t let the chance pass again.

Jason leads a non-profit organization in San Antonio, Texas called Fit For The King. His mission is to increase community awareness in the growing trend of obesity and to motivate individuals to live life to the fullest. He wrote and told me, “We realize that what we are called to do is no small thing. It is going to take a city-wide effort of networking and partnering to bring this vision to pass.” A very powerful driver – compassion, motivates Jason. God has put a love for others in Jason. I believe real motivation doesn’t exist without it. The thing about compassion is you can’t make it happen. You can’t structure it into a winning plan. Rather, compassion has to come alive in you. That starts by being humble. It grows by continually seeking God’s grace.

Casey is a personal trainer that has discovered the limits of commercialism and consumerism. She says, “Recently I submitted a proposal to my church about starting a health and fitness program. Our church has around 4000 members. As of now they don’t have any type of fitness program. I work at a cooperate gym but feel that I have a bigger purpose than just helping a select few that can afford to train with me.” Casey knows that the dollar often becomes the primary goal, the only measure of value, the “Lord” of life. While I don’t believe fitness ministry should be free I do know that the best ministry happens when initiatives are staffed with those who are motivated by deeper values. They see beyond the dollars and the membership growth. For them motivation is a state of being. In Rob Killen’s article, Hiring All-Stars, he discusses how attitude is what makes the difference.

Finally, Brent shared with me how his friend was experiencing shortness of breath and a lot of physical pain. She quite honestly was scared and questioning if God was there for her or even real. During his “alone time” he heard God’s voice and was compelled to call his friend and encourage her. Brent didn’t just tell her, “I’ll be praying for you” he challenged her to be very specific in her prayer conversation and pursuit of God. That cell phone call, was Brent’s obedience to Jesus Christ and a key moment in motivating a young woman to go further and seek God.

Distance runners often find one Bible verse to be particularly motivational. It says, “Seeing we are surrounded by so many witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.”

I remember once when I was training for a half-marathon I started one early morning on my first eleven-mile run. Barely two miles into the lonely challenge I was already being tormented by biting flies, had a dry mouth at the height of my anaerobic threshold and was experiencing strong pains in my knee, back, feet and side simultaneously. At that point my mind was reasoning pretty loudly, “Stop and take a break… at least slow down.” But three miles came then four then halfway. In distance running you get to the point rather quickly where you realize you are stranded. It is pointless to quit, go slow or turn around. The goal is the only option. This is what makes running so highly motivational for those who also have a journey of faith. If you can learn one underlying running-oriented principle it will powerfully impact your walk (or should I say ‘run’) with God. Here it is: Let God set the distance then get stranded. When you do this then you are positioned to experience a compelling dynamic in your faith and go further with God.

Give every moment of your life an eternal perspective.

Commit to be the motivation for others.

What I continually observe in my life and in the lives of others is that there is an unwillingness (perhaps a determination) to NOT lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily beset us. We say we want to be motivated but we hold on to all kinds of things that slow us down, hold us back and stop us. It seems like it should be an easy thing to do — but it isn’t. It’s not that we want to fail we just lack the motivation to do things differently.
How do you make a shift and develop a well-toned spiritual physique? You have to eternalize the moment. Give every moment of your life an eternal perspective. Don’t whine, “Oh I need some motivation.” Instead, commit to be the motivation for others. You can be God in the flesh for someone today and create lasting value in their life. And – you can do it everyday for the rest of your life.

Too often the Christian faith is portrayed and understood (by media and often the church) as morphine. The perception is that God is a potent drug for the relief of severe and agonizing pain that can lead to an uncontrollable and undesirable addiction. I challenge you to be the true reflection of God. Be motivation – be the force that gives reason to life.
Train strong in Christ,
-Brad Bloom

Brad Bloom finds that his grandson gives him even more motivation in life. He is the publisher of Faith & Fitness Magazine the premier source of information, ideas and networking for those pursuing an active physical and spiritual life. He provides leadership to organizations that recognize that growth comes by fueling the passion of members and delivering genuine “intimate care”. He helps businesses to move beyond the cliché concepts of “body, mind, spirit” and become innovative communities. His concepts are defining new directions for the lifestyle industry. A communicator and media producer, Brad is president of Lifestyle Media Group. He lives with his wife and children in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia.