
“Three Easy Steps”
Way back in August, I received the above photo from a parishioner who was attending a “community fair” of sorts here in Wauwatosa. She was quite excited to see yours truly had become a “poster child” for my local gym. I had previously posted the before-and-after photo to the gym’s Facebook page as a way to hopefully encourage and motivate some of my fellow gym members. While I know everything on social media is “public,” I was surprised to see my photo become public in such a tangible way.
Let’s be clear. I’ve been in a struggle with my weight and my body image as long as I can remember. I think my pediatrician put me on a diet for the first time when I was twelve or thirteen years old. For those of you keeping score, that was over forty-five years ago! During the ensuing decades, I’ve mostly been overweight, with some stints as almost obese, and a few months here and there of “within parameters.” I’ve never been skinny.
I started the latest journey towards healthier living in February 2016, and while wrangling my dietary choices is still a constant struggle, time at the gym at least got me in touch with ways to move towards a more active lifestyle. Since I took the selfie on February 2, 2016, I have ridden my bike across Iowa twice, ran seventeen half marathons, and walked the Camino de Santiago (440 miles). I’m by no means an athlete. I’m simply stubborn — according to the “Swarm app” on my phone, I’ve “checked in” at the gym over 600 times since February 2016.
I have always found “maintenance” the most difficult part of any of my dozens of attempts to lose weight/get in shape. When there’s no dramatic results to show for my efforts, I get discouraged. Before I know it, I start to slack off. And eventually, I quit.
These past few months have been no different. It’s taken me weeks to finally get back into the workout rhythm I had prior to sabbatical. What seems to have been different this time is my stubbornness has been stronger than my laziness. And…I haven’t done it on my own. I’ve had this band of a few dozen fellow gym members. We’ve supported each other, cheered each other, and occasionally (when warranted!) challenged each other. There isn’t anything difficulty or complicated about the “Three Steps.” And still maintenance is hard. I can’t do it alone. I need help. And thankfully, this community of like-minded folks helps me.
I have a friend who is a priest who once said being the pastor of a church is like being an aerobics instructor where folks show up to your class, watch you work out, go home, sit on the sofa, eat whatever, and then wonder why they’re not meeting their fitness goals. The reality is, as with the physical fitness, so with our spiritual well-being. We can seek out assistance. We can show up at the classes. But in the end, we have to expend some effort ourselves.
Spiritual growth, like physical fitness, comes in bits and pieces. Progress is sometimes painfully slow. Often progress seems non-existent. There is no three-step formula for spiritual growth, but there are a few practices that help create opportunities for growth to happen. And the beginning practice is to find a community of fellow pilgrims, connect with them, and keep showing up. Do the basics of going to worship, reading Scripture, praying, and participating in acts of Christian service. Pay attention. Be patient — no, more than being patient, be tenacious. While there won’t necessarily be dramatic before-and-after photos to share on social media, there will be something much more important — a deeper connection with God, with the people around you, and with yourself. Believe me, those results are more than worth the effort. Keep going.
