God and the Gym

Today I had a rather odd, although very humbling experience. I have been going to the gym in Clinton now for about 6 weeks. I haven't missed a day and am finding that I am getting stronger and have greater flexibility and balance - all pluses if you ask me. And, I continue to lose weight and inches - never mind that it will be months before it shows. LOL

The people who go there are an interesting mix. Since the gym is affiliated with the therapy center many patients transfer to the gym when their therapy is over - there are people who have MS, stroke recovery, knee and hip replacement, and anything else that seems to need therapy. Many of these patients are older - probably in their 70's. They all seem to know one another and it is almost like a social club. There are young people who come in - they seem to gravitate to the yoga and pilates classes and other such activities. There is a pretty good group of people who are physically fit and have been doing this for years - it is obvious that it has been a way of life. And then, there are the ME's - people who are morbidly obese, with aches, pains, and illnesses that the obesity is aggravating and they are trying to take back their lives.

There is a lady that is in one of the water aerobics classes that is turning 95 on Friday. She was a math teacher at one of the high schools here for years. She retired in 1976. She drives herself and in every way seems capable and able.

There is a gentleman that often uses the equipment next to mine who is 98. His daughter brings him in everyday- she assists him in getting into the seat of the recumbent bike - and then goes and exercises herself. He pedals away for a full 30 minutes, at a pretty good pace, all the while he is talking to other patrons. He is lucid, hears well, and in every way seems to have much more life in him.

Another gentleman comes in daily as well - now he reminds me of the energizer bunny. He works the Nu-Step machine (an aerobic exerciser that is easier on the joints than the bike - it is what I use) twice each day for about 30 minutes at a time. He will use the tread mill, the elliptical, the rowing machine, and every piece of strength training equipment in the gym. He isn't a casual exerciser either - he goes at it full tilt. He is boisterous, friendly, and quite gregarious. He seems to know everyone in the place by name and everyone seems to know him.

Anyway - today I arrived at a time when there weren't many people in the gym - just he and I. We were using the Nu-Steps and I had my I-touch going with a conference talk on when this gentleman started talking to me. I took out the ear piece from my ear and proceeded to answer his questions and was quite surprised when he called me by my name. He wanted to know where I lived, where we had moved from, what my husband did for a living, etc. And then he said, "I want you to know that you are inspiring to me and everyone else here. I told my daughter in Nashville about you. She has been going through a nasty divorce and has put on quite a bit of weight."

I was caught completely off guard and kind of laughed nervously and then said, "tell her to lose it quickly before she gets to be big like me and it takes so much effort to get it off! LOL"

He responded by saying, "Well, I told her about you, coming every day and working out like the devil. I told her that you're looking good and that if you can do, so can she! All it will take is some dedication and commitment like you have."

I was so flustered I didn't know what to say - except "thank you!" It was just an odd thing to have happen - but as I said before, very humbling. I am grateful for his support and for voicing it. But it has caused me to wonder about the sphere of influence that we have. I suppose that sphere is far greater than we will ever know, ever can know, for good and for bad. And what he doesn't know is the battle I had within myself to even go there the first time - that basically I am a coward! LOL

Ironically the leaders of the church have been asking us to use our influence to make that which is good popular and that which is bad unpopular - and while I have always known that we have some influence - I hadn't ever really considered that I had any influence to speak of - except for perhaps with my children - and I am not even sure about that! LOL I am not suggesting in any way that my going to the gym and working to lose weight and get healthy will really change anyone else's life but my own - but I really hadn't realized that people really are watching us in everything we do, everyday. I have lived in my own little bubble for so long that I guess I just thought that I was invisible or blended in with the scenery - now that is rich irony considering how much weight I have to lose! LOL But seriously, how much good could I do if I would just open my mouth? How many times have I passed up an opportunity to share the gospel because I have been in my own world rather than in the world around me? What would my sphere of influence be if all of my actions were congruent to the things that I know to be true? How much damage have I caused when my actions haven't reflected well on the Church, its' people, or even the Lord? Perhaps that is why this was such a humbling experience - because my eyes have been opened to the knowledge that in every way I need to reflect my Heavenly Father's love for His children, His gospel, and His church. I do love my Heavenly Father and I have really always tried to keep His commandments and to live my life according to the gospel - but I have done so very imperfectly and have not always done the right thing even though I may have been trying to do it. Perhaps today and this gentleman's comments were one of the Lord's very many tender mercies in my life that will help me continue to try to master and conform my life more perfectly to my Master's. My mom used to have a favorite saying on her wall - "Please be patient with me - God isn't finished with me yet!" There could be no truer statement than that about me!