Staying in Shape

It's become a predictable routine.

We get a call from the central food bank that a donation is ready for pick-up.

I head over and load our vehicle with 50- and 100-pound bags of rice, beans, sugar, etc.

Then we throw in the 20-30-pound bags of individually packaged goods.

Probably cases of oil, soups, oatmeal, and other items.

Then I drive home and unload the goods into the house to be separated and stored.

This is followed by 2-3 days of me whining about how much my back hurts.

Okay... maybe 3-5 days.

You see, I made a serious miscalculation when I got into this ministry.

I assumed doing this sort of work would get me into shape as my "senior era" approached.

But it turns out a better idea is to be in shape in order to do this sort of work.

Regular and regimented exercise is the key.

And that is why 3-5 days of whining and back pain remain the norm.

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Sharing, feeding, and hugs are other vital components of our ministry.

But having conversations about faith and Jesus is my favorite part of this life.

Whether it's a chance encounter or a scheduled sermon, I love it.

But just like my back tells me it's not built to lift 100-pound bags anymore,

my heart and brain occasionally question my effectiveness in sharing the Word.

In those moments, I might reflect on doubts, uncertainty, or confusion.

And I've come to realize it is not just my back that requires more exercise.

Lifting the Bible a few times a week keeps my mind and spirit stronger, too.

After all these years of reading, re-reading, and reading the Bible again...

And I still lose some readiness and conviction if I don't keep it up.  

My life also feels better with the right music, sermons, and people.

So sometimes, I turn off my 70s classic rock and whatever Catalina has on the TV.

And spend some time building up my faith reserves.

With better discipline, I'd probably be in a more consistent preaching shape.

Praise God getting back in focus with Jesus doesn't require planks or squats!