Exercising regularly in the fitness center at Bluffton Family Recreation has brought a number of issues to light. When the alarm rings we simply get up and throw on an old t shirt and shorts, eat some breakfast and go as we are. When we get to the fitness center, we look like we just got out of bed with hair going all directions and eyes looking kind of groggy. We really like it when the fitness center is empty or mostly empty and I think the main issue is how we will look doing our exercises. Our trainer has given us a number of exercises to help our balance. I look really ridiculous trying to balance on one foot while lifting an 8 lb. weight above my head. I am hopping around all over the place trying to balance on one foot. This shows the trainer that I need even more balancing exercises so I have good balance when older and won’t fall and break something. Why am I concerned with how I look when exercising? Certainly there is no competition. Everyone is there for the same purpose: to get in better physical conditioning.
In reality it doesn’t matter if our hair is not purpose when in the fitness center and if we look ridiculous trying to balance. Our purpose is not to look presentable but to get fit and improve our physical conditioning. Everyone in the room has the same purpose and is not checking out how other exercisers look. The fitness center is a specific place for exercising and so I am not embarrassed to do all sorts of exercises when in that room because that is exactly what the room is for.
Sometimes I think we are concerned about what people will think if they see us praying. We don’t want to “get caught” praying and so we don’t pray at all. We especially do not want others to see us using a specific prayer position like kneeling or sitting in a receptive mode with our palms up and eyes closed.
I wonder sometimes if it would help to have a specific room set apart for prayer. Nothing would take place in the room except prayer and meditation. When going into the room we would know that others in the room are praying and we would enter it solely for the purpose of praying. It wouldn’t matter if people would see us kneeling in prayer or see us trying various prayer positions (even lying prostrate before God) because all would know that that prayer is the purpose of the room.
Certainly we can pray to Heavenly Parent any time and any place. We don’t need to have a specific room in order to pray. In fact, I have found that my best prayer position is walking or riding bicycle. I have also found it very worshipful to pray while walking around the various church sanctuaries that I have been connected to. But I admit that I am uncomfortable if I think someone will find me in the sanctuary and wonder what in the world I am doing walking in circles in the sanctuary or kneeling at the railing of the balcony looking down at empty benches. Even so, I think it could be greatly beneficial to have a room dedicated for the discipline of prayer. Not all our praying would be done there, but when we would be in that room it would easier to pray without distractions and we would not forget why we were in that room.
I can exercise in other places than the fitness center but it helps me be disciplined and accountable to go to the fitness center, and exercise. Could a prayer room work in the same way? I wonder…
Blog 10 October 16, 2009
My secretary reminded me one day last week that maybe it was time to write another blog. I did not realize that it has been two months since my last entry! So much for writing a regular blog! Much has happened since I last wrote. Let me catch you up a little bit.
We are now official “empty nesters!” All our kids have flown the coup and Dianne and I are home alone. Julia is enjoying campus life at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she is a Freshman. Philip and Mary are studying hard at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California where they are both 1st year students. Ryan has moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he is part of a new Mennonite Voluntary Service unit. For his VS assignment he is doing office work at a ministry for Hispanics and a public access television station. Julia will come home for Thanksgiving break and we will all be together for Christmas.
Dianne and I are enjoying the empty nest. It is kind of nice not to have to worry about anyone else’s schedules other than our own. One of the things we have done together is join a Fitness for Life class at Bluffton Family Recreation. We have a trainer who gives us a series of physical exercises to do three times a week. I never knew how many different muscles I had and she seems to think they all need stretching and strengthening. It is not easy for either of us to get out of bed and drive to BFR in the dark to do exercises, but since we are both doing the same routine, we can challenge and encourage one another. The program also cuts down the amount of food we can eat. We haven’t really started counting calories but we have cut down our portion sizes and number of portions and cut out desserts and snacks. Again, it makes it easier since we are both on the program together. After three weeks, I am already feeling better and more energized. I will keep you posted as we continue.
Again in this season, I am reminded of God’s creativity in the beautiful fall colors which are becoming more brilliant every day. I hope everyone can get out for a drive, or better yet, a walk, or still better yet, a bicycle ride in these cool, crisp days and enjoy the changing colors our Creator has designed for us to. You won’t be disappointed.
I hope it won’t be so long before my next blog.
We are now official “empty nesters!” All our kids have flown the coup and Dianne and I are home alone. Julia is enjoying campus life at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she is a Freshman. Philip and Mary are studying hard at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California where they are both 1st year students. Ryan has moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he is part of a new Mennonite Voluntary Service unit. For his VS assignment he is doing office work at a ministry for Hispanics and a public access television station. Julia will come home for Thanksgiving break and we will all be together for Christmas.
Dianne and I are enjoying the empty nest. It is kind of nice not to have to worry about anyone else’s schedules other than our own. One of the things we have done together is join a Fitness for Life class at Bluffton Family Recreation. We have a trainer who gives us a series of physical exercises to do three times a week. I never knew how many different muscles I had and she seems to think they all need stretching and strengthening. It is not easy for either of us to get out of bed and drive to BFR in the dark to do exercises, but since we are both doing the same routine, we can challenge and encourage one another. The program also cuts down the amount of food we can eat. We haven’t really started counting calories but we have cut down our portion sizes and number of portions and cut out desserts and snacks. Again, it makes it easier since we are both on the program together. After three weeks, I am already feeling better and more energized. I will keep you posted as we continue.
Again in this season, I am reminded of God’s creativity in the beautiful fall colors which are becoming more brilliant every day. I hope everyone can get out for a drive, or better yet, a walk, or still better yet, a bicycle ride in these cool, crisp days and enjoy the changing colors our Creator has designed for us to. You won’t be disappointed.
I hope it won’t be so long before my next blog.
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