As I sat on the couch, another infomercial reminded me that I’m too fat, too lazy, and too apathetic. This time, I decided, it was time to make a change—I was finally ready to take the plunge. So I tentatively started my journey to wellness.
Walking is good. It’s an entry-level fitness habit that I now do every day. I’m able to fit it easily within the parameters of my normal schedule. Nearly effortless, it doesn’t take much for me to engage. It’s almost like killing three birds with one stone—I can walk the dog, listen to a podcast, and get the steps in.
But soon I wondered what it’d be like to get in a full-body workout. I’ve been following this walking routine long enough now that I’ve dropped a few pounds. I’m more steady on my feet, so maybe I’m ready to engage in something more meaningful. Maybe I’ll sign up for a gym membership. Or maybe I’ll snag a few workout videos from the next-door neighbor’s garage sale… I’ve now discovered that “Sweating to the Oldies” and Jane Fonda’s Jazzercise videos, though archaic, give me a chance to declare “I can do more!” So, today I’m joining LifeTime Fitness. I’ve already made it through a 5K on the treadmill. Tomorrow I’m taking a class called Body Combat. I like this! It’s almost hard to remember when the only exercise I got was lifting the remote while binging on Netflix!
So, today, a person in my tribe invited me to CrossFit. I told them I’d think about it. Truth is, I’m intrigued. The stuff I see on social media looks tough! Probably more challenging than I’m ready for. But there’s a community connected to the CrossFit movement that’s super-appealing. I wouldn’t be alone, or the only one feeling stretched. And I can’t deny the fitness benefits. I can almost feel my sore muscles just thinking about it. A good sore.
And this is the way discipleship works for all of us, not just our students…
We’re encouraged by someone to “get off the couch.” Once we’re off the couch, we start slow and keep it steady. As our passion and curiosity grow, we engage in deeper, more meaningful moments. Until, finally, we’re thinking of flipping tractor tires and deadlifting hundreds of pounds with a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on.
Who have you encouraged, in a personal way, to get off the couch? What resources are you providing to spur them to the next step? How are you joining others on a journey that is challenging, daunting, and worth it?