“That’s dangerous,” my wife yelled.
“Just take my picture,” I replied.
We were hiking in the Peak District of England with friends Jez and Emma Godlinton when Jez snapped an over-the-edge shot of me.
I recently saw Mission Impossible – Fallout on the big screen. My wife and I enjoyed the thriller/action movie in part because it’s fun to watch old Tom Cruise do his own stunts — few people get to show off their physical fitness like this guy. Earlier this year, we were blessed to visit London, Paris and many spectacular natural locations in Iceland.
Though I didn’t jump rooftops in London, ride a high speed motorcycle in Paris or hang from a cliff in Norway (the actual location for Cruise’ final action scene), our experiences in these places are still fresh in our memories. Does that make me an action movie hero? Hardly. But I have a story to tell and you do too.
WORTH THE EFFORT?
According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) about 16% of the American population belong to a health club. That number is increasing but, why don’t more people regularly enjoy a fit lifestyle at the gym? The Pew Research Center reports that 37% of Americans attend church weekly. However, there is an overall decline in religious practice. Why is it hard to go to church? The U.S. Census Bureau says only 3% of the nation’s land area is cities yet 81% of the population lives there. How come that even though we are surrounded by people loneliness is a modern-day epidemic?
Beyond these statistics, I find that many people don’t have a personal story to tell. They’re working a job, owning stuff, keeping plenty busy and pursuing happiness but meaningfulness for the most part eludes them. Having a purpose-driven life requires that we can tell the narrative to others and be of value to them. It’s living a passion by continually fulfilling a calling.
I think there are some common reasons people won’t go to a gym, resist setting foot in a church, never connect with different people in their city and avoid authoring a living biography. It’s over-the-edge. At least that’s what they think. These places are often unfamiliar creating some amount of discomfort. Fitness, faith and new friendships require considerable effort and necessitate cooperation. Is the change and growth worth the significant costs?
New destinations are amazing and require a vigorous journey.
MY GYM, MY SANCTUARY, MY CITY, MY STORY
Let me break down for you my observations in these four areas and invite you to get a grip and go over-the-edge.
Gyms and the fitness experience have to evolve into being more fun, friendly and generous — active experiences that give an abundance of goodness. If you do fitness either professionally or as a participant what are you doing to create that destination for others?
The church (Christians and any place where they are present with God’s Spirit) has to return to being the ultimate sanctuary — an intentional getting away from everything and getting into the presence (both corporately and individually) with God. If you do church how aware are you of God’s presence? How willing are you to let it permeate the ethos of the moment? How persistent will you be in being used?
Your city is a gathering of needs and solutions. It’s an evolving landscape of brokenness in need of repair. It is an opportunity to be celebrated and fulfilled. The space we share is crowded but the interactions we have too often are distant. There’s a big difference between ‘no judgment’ and practicing the sacred art of compassion. We have the ability to work together.
YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL – OWN IT!
The gym is what we do. The sanctuary is who we are in the presence of God.
The city is the choice we make to be among others. The story is life internalized, pursued toward understanding, translated and then shared.
Individually each plays an important role in your life. Brought together, they create a big picture with thrilling potential. An even bigger shift occurs when we take ownership of each and say MY gym, MY sanctuary, MY city, MY story. Give them all to God so you can give them all to others.
Take ownership of the opportunity. Get a grip. Make your exercise, worship, dwelling and being all come together as a vigorous journey that leads to new and spectacular destinations — God-created outcomes.
