Nice Calves Bro
The boys and I got gym memberships. I know, it’s shocking that a family would go to a gym in January! The reality of our situation is that a gym membership would give us something to do to get through the rest of these winter nights until we have more daylight and chance to rip around outside.
The good thing is that this is a family affair. Jan teaches yoga there and the boys and I can do gym things. It’s been a while since I ventured into a gym but it’s not entirely different than I remembered. There are all kinds of people there doing a variety of exercises to get stronger and more fit.
Sam and I were doing leg presses when I saw a pair of guys doing calf raises on the squat rack. After each set I noticed that they would then stand at the mirror and flex their calves to see what all was going on down there. The process continued; 10 repetitions with the weights and then a good 10 seconds flexing in the mirror. These were serious guys focused on getting some calves!
I admit I might have slightly rolled my eyes but then I was reminded that this is a gym and the whole point of doing physical exercise is to invoke some kind of change. These guys were doing crazy reps of calf raises in order to see a change in their calves. Others might be there to burn calories in order to lose weight. Some might be there to feel better about themselves. Or ride a bike faster. Or meet a new friend. I don’t truly know all of the reasons but I do know that walking into a gym means you are taking a step for change. A change of some sort.
I’m also aware that gym attendance plummets next month. The tendency is to start the year looking for change and then we kind of fizzle out. We get other priorities or find something else that takes our time. But there’s also that unmet expectation of change. Sometimes the change just doesn’t come in the time we allot for it to happen and we give up or just find something else.
I saw the guys flexing for change and thought of our prayers to God. I sometimes ask God for a change. A change in circumstances. A change in what I’m doing or the world around me. But then I remember that praying is like that gym membership. You enter into it to change yourself. Sometimes that’s the thing that needs to change before all of the other things! Sure, God can change circumstances and does. But He will change your heart and your thoughts in the process and that leads to a deeper understanding of just who He is and why He’s worthy of our time and worship.
A membership in God’s gym is signing up for some serious personal change. Sometimes its slooooow. I feel that. Sometimes it’s so fast that you know it had to be God. You might sense change in areas you didn’t realize you needed change or have a change of heart for someone or something else. You may find that God doesn’t change others, much to your chagrin, but changes how you look at them. Trust the process and keep swiping that membership card daily with God so that you put time in with Him and experience change.
I’ll be curious to see how those guys calves develop with their gym membership. I’m also curious to see how I develop in an ever-evolving God gym membership. How about you? Are you prepared to change?
