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.
MAN MADE MUD
Training and performance have been taken to new heights these days. The adult version of mud puddles and monkey bars have become the extreme course to prove our real strength and worth. Or have they?
Creed thrives on the cheers as he overcomes the toughest of man-made barriers. But all the hours of practice still haven’t equipped him to hold tight to what matters most – his family. The Oorahs, high-fives and team shirts feel good but his kids are slipping away from him.
Call that record breaking results? It isn’t to him either!
Now more than ever before Creed knows it’s time to redefine how he measures results and base fitness on more than race times, awards and temporal celebrity status.
Beyond the ninja in him, he hopes that God has greater glory for him and a lasting value that he can give to his family. A cold beer and a good talk reviewing the highlights is nice. But deep down Creed longs for a deeper conversation about the most important race he’s currently running all by himself.
HOLD THE POSE
Everybody says the group exercise instructor is so motivational. They’re right. But for all the positivity Cali still feels empty. The hype stimulates the endorphins. Yet she longs to be valued in her weakness, when she’s alone and can’t hold the pose any longer.
The mindfulness honestly has been helpful. But it’s not the deep results she was expecting. Cali’s friends who stretch with her talk about things like enlightenment and being in a state of zen. It all seems so mystical to her. That’s the exact thing that turned her off to that “Holy Spirit” thing she used to hear about when she was going to church.
Cali does want to stretch herself. She thought this class that cultivates greater physical performance, better health and even self-satisfaction would be a move in that direction. But with each pose she’s gaining a greater awareness that there must be more. Could it be that all the flexibility in attitudes, perspectives and purpose are actually keeping her from discovering her full range of motion? One thing’s for certain – She’s put herself in a position that for some reason has her feeling rather uncomfortable.
FIST PUNCH
You wouldn’t think lifting weights with a total stranger could result in anything more than a good workout. That’s what Travis thought.
The preacher at the church he visits from time to time had thrown out a challenge several months ago. The sermon title, Be Someone’s Spiritual Spotter, had caught his attention. Travis likes to lift weights but he doesn’t identify as a strong Christian. But, for some weird reason he just couldn’t shake the invite to be that something more – to someone else. He was pretty certain he was inexperienced in exercising his spiritual gifts but he was willing to lend an ear and perhaps even be the unlikely hope to someone in need.
Last Monday Travis wasn’t expecting anything from one casual fist punch after he helped some guy by the name of Zack with a particularly tough set who asked for a spot. But, when you go into each day, each place and each interaction with others with a commitment to be used by God then the results are more than just good.
Zack thought his alcohol addiction would last a lifetime. Turns out Travis was there at the right time in Zack’s life.
Conversations, even the ones that honestly wrestle with challenges and addictions can lead to friendships and that can lead to helping someone find that God is the source of strength to overcome our greatest weaknesses.
Gaining muscle is great. Gaining lasting freedom from bondage is an outcome that proves faith makes a huge difference.
