Gymnos is the Greek origin of our modern-day word Gym. It means “naked.” The scenarios in this department can help reveal to you the thoughts you keep covered from others and yourself so you can gain greater confidence in serving God.
Today for sure was a good workout at the gym. You lifted heavier, pushed harder and made some serious gains. Which is why, you could kick yourself for Getting not 1 but 2 Big Macs. At least you saw Jeff while you we’re walking in to get your carb fix.
“Hey man, What’s Up?!” you gestured.
From behind his sun glasses he replied, “Ah you know, tryin to make it the best I can”.
“That’s what I’m talkin about” you blurted back with a smile as you kept on walking. When you came back out thank God he wasn’t anywhere to be found. Your secret bag of guilty pleasure was safe.
Back in your car, driving down the road and scrafing your food you thought about how you hadn’t seen Jeff in a long time. “Wonder what he was up to these days?” You guys used to hang out a lot together. Somewhere along the way, at least you figured, he finally got as busy as you. “Bout time looser”, you laughed out loud causing you to chock and spit out a big chunk of hamburger onto the dashboard as you slammed on the breaks to avoid hitting the car in front of you.
When the light turned green the recent encounter with Jeff replayed in your mind. He wasn’t the chub you remembered. In fact he’d lost a lot of weight, maybe too much. It hadn’t been that long since you saw him last. The more you thought about it you couldn’t help but wonder if his, “tryin to make it the best I can” was code for I’m using drugs again. “Probably getting all depressed and messed up,” you thought out loud, “He’s so stupid if he’s doing that crap.”
You’d both screwed up before — big time! By the grace of God you’d not only managed to clean up your life but build a bod to be proud of. You mind wandered, “Guahsssh, look at me pigging out on this. Come on man, you’re better than this. Reflect your inner man!”
You turned up the volume on your playlist, rolled down the window, held your head high and with a powerful pitch hurled the second sandwich into the ditch.
QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION AND GROUP DISCUSSION
- Most gym, church or studio memberships have a ‘guest pass’ feature. What are the details of that feature for your membership? Among your coworkers, classmates, neighbors, friends, family members and other contacts who could you invite to join you for some fitness and fellowship? Describe what that would look like.
- Jeff is a fictional character who represents those people in our lives who we know but with whom we haven’t kept in contact like we could. Who are the Jeffs in your life? Recall a time when you learned that someone you know had an illness, struggle, loss, failure or other difficult circumstance of which you were not aware. How could you have helped that person? What are some ways you can reconnect with someone?
- Think about the things you do to make yourself a better you. How can those good things become a distraction from seeing the needs of others? What are some ways you can get out of your own thoughts and agenda and be more aware of and responsive to others? Read the Bible passage of the good Samaritan and consider what lessons Christ teaches. What other Bible passages relate to this Gymnos story?
- Recall and discuss a time in your life when you were too caught up in what you were doing and later realized you missed an opportunity to be more present in someone’s life. How can you draw on your faith in God and make it a strength you give to others in the moment?
