You want to see my arms? Eh, probably not. People assume that the publisher of Faith & Fitness Magazine surely is a bodybuilder or wellness guru. Nope. Sure, I workout and I’ve looked in the mirror just a few times — I don’t have “big guns” (Urban Dictionary: Big arm muscles).
So, when I started asking readers to send me their best arm photos for this magazine issue, not everyone was enthusiastic. Some people replied, “I don’t think so” or “You’re kidding right?” Giving people a chance to show off physical accomplishments expanded into an observation of our spiritual nature.
Some of us are disappointed, frustrated or ashamed of what we have. A few have assets that come easily, a few more from hard work and others by induced engineering. There are ones that care and care so much that they obsess. Others have lost all hope. Many don’t bother to think one way or the other about what they have, “Last time I checked I have two arms, no big deal, end of conversation.”
All of us can take things for granted, especially when they come in pairs. I did until a couple of years ago. That is when I discovered I was losing my ability to see in one eye. Increased eye pressure, or glaucoma, was pretty quickly damaging my optic nerve. Once you lose it you never get it back. When we lose things we tend to appreciate them more. We also become a bit more convinced that despite our best efforts life is pretty tough. It can make even the most faithful question if God knows what He’s doing. For those that don’t believe in God, pain and loss reinforce the obvious. For those who do pursue God, the stereo design, that provision of two serves as evidence of His grace — if you lose one you’ve still got one.
All of us have only one life. Don't live with fear or regret. Take what you have and do your very best.
That’s where my friend Denise helps take this conversation in a different direction. “Show me your arms” could be a pretty insensitive thing to say to her. It would be, except she overcame that already.
Denise has a partial limb from birth. Her spirit doesn’t just inspire, it gives insight into where we can mature as humans. She types fast, looks fashionable and does a gym workout with full intensity. She doesn’t accept fear or regret. Instead she takes what she has and does her very best. That is not only impressive, it is the right thing to do. It is the only thing any of us can do.
We may have two eyes and two arms but all of us have only one life. That life has been given to you not by your own choosing. When it comes to death, you don’t have a choice either. Those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He physically died and lives again so that we can too, have a distinctly different view. For a Christian death isn’t the end, it is just a milestone, a transition point.
It is a hope however that can get out of perspective. Faith can get tainted with resignation and compromise. When that happens, a person mistakenly places greater value on life after death — that eternity in heaven. If you’re not dead, you’re not there yet.
Why ‘just live’ when you can be life to others? Strong arms do good works.
It is one thing to recognize your weakness. It is another to find opportunities for growth. You can choose to live without fear or regret. You can choose to not be selfish and instead be compassion doing your very best. Rely on God’s strength and enduring mercy to create a culture of learning. Make a commitment to extend grace to others.
Train strong in Christ,
Brad Bloom
BEFORE YOU LEAVE THIS PAGE POST A COMMENT BELOW THEN USE YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE THIS ARTICLE.
