GYMNOS – Fitness Scenarios for Self-Examination
Gymnos is the Greek origin of our modern-day word Gym. It means “naked.” GYMNOS articles in Faith & Fitness Magazine are designed to help you challenge your thinking. In the literal sense, when you are naked in the locker room there is nothing to hide. That makes most people uncomfortable. Use this scenario to get naked spiritually—be honest, transparent, undisguised and willing to be totally open with yourself and others. All characters in this scenario are fictional. Any similarity to an actual person is coincidental.
Edward and Diane are the everyday picture-perfect couple that decided to get a gym membership together.
During the winter months they found themselves sick, tired and frustrated. Not only could they see it, others could too. A couple of co-workers told Ed he was frequently cranky and a family member commented about how ‘big’ Diane looked in the picture she posted on Instagram. In tears, Diane called her sister. Always very close, their conversations were honest. Her sister admonished, “You’re always telling me how you’re aching and lethargic. Take a sick day and get to the doctor.”
Surely an antibiotic and prescription pain reliever would do the trick. But meds were not what the doc prescribed. Poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise were resulting in their chronic pain, irritability and poor health. “Fix it now or diabetes, heart disease and depression are all in your future”, the doctor warned.
Not yet convinced, they booked an adjustment with a chiropractor. Hoping for a quick in-and-out solution. What they got instead was a closer look at the thoughts, toxins and traumas that have gradually debilitated their bodies AND their spirit. The real cure according to the chiropractor would only be revealed if they made some significant lifestyle adjustments.
Deep down they knew ignoring the problems wouldn’t make them go away.
So, they shopped around for a place to workout. First they looked at a small 24-hour key-card facility, then a budget gym, a commercial garage boot camp environment, a personal training boutique and finally a YMCA. Each have different selling points and drawbacks. Ultimately, Ed and Di felt the Y would be the best fit for them.
It has one of the best weight rooms around, plenty of group exercise options, even a pool, racquet ball and basketball court and a sauna when they were all done. They got into it — hitting the gym together three or more times a week. They made friends with other members who got them hooked on just how much training could make a difference. They changed their diet too as their new found friends convinced them that eating more greens was an awesome way to get healthy.
Four months into it they were losing weight, gaining muscle tone, feeling more energetic and already hyping the fitness lifestyle. One evening after a particularly intense workout Diane was back on the phone talking with her sister. This time she was bubbling, “We’re really into this diet. I look great already. Give me eight more weeks of busting it hard and at the summer family reunion it’s going to be my ‘Big Reveal’. Be ready to say hello to one hot sis! I’ve got a lot to show off.”
After the call, Diane got a short text message from her sister, “Keep it real.”
The next day her and Edward were dripping with sweat as they finished forty-five minutes of intense cardio. As they headed to the locker rooms they passed Roger, a Y employee, who smiled at them and said, “Keep it up and keep it real.” Diane abruptly stopped, “I’ve heard you tell others that. What do you do here? AND – What do you mean, ‘keep it real’?” Roger replied, “I’m the chaplain. And, I just like to challenge our members to keep their fitness in focus with the bigger picture.”
After showering, Ed and Di knocked on the door to Roger’s office, “Can we talk with you?” The next eight weeks brought about some of the toughest changes they’d ever made. The physical transformation had only been the beginning. Spiritually they were hurting more than anyone could see and far more than they had ever recognized. The fit lifestyle was really good but deeper down beyond the knowing of what they needed to do was a longing for love and greater purpose.
They found that in Christ. At Diane’s summer family reunion, beyond better physiques and more positive attitudes, the ‘Big Reveal’ was that Edward and Diane had committed their lives to Jesus Christ and to each other. The wedding would be in September.
They were an everyday couple, not really picture-perfect, but they decided to get a gym membership together. What they got was a whole lot more.
QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION AND GROUP DISCUSSION
1. If you were looking for a place to exercise and get fit what qualities would you want in a gym or training service? How do those qualities reflect who you are spiritually?
2. What makes it naturally easy for some people to get caught in all the excitement and hype of the fitness culture and then become big fitness advocates to everyone they are around? In what ways have you seen others do that with their faith in Jesus Christ?
3. What personal choices do you feel you’re avoiding or postponing? How will life be different when you choose to move forward? What role do you believe God can play in this?
This article originally appears in the June/July 2015 issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine. Read more of that issue to examine how you can become more confident in the faith you believe to the extent that you’ll want to consistently share it with others.
