As I concluded my workout this morning at my 2nd church campus, Planet Fitness, as I begin to see my purpose, no....HIS purpose for me more clearly there.
See back on May 7th, I decided to shoot a video of me in front of the Planet Fitness declaring that I wanted to gift my family, friends, my GOD, and myself a finer, fitter, faster version of myself. Do not be fooled....I came to Planet Fitness like a child....wanting something from them for myself. Their equipment, their benefits, their facilities were to serve me, and serve me they did. We come into this world with this exact same mindset. We want to be fed, loved, cleaned up after, attended to and it's 100% all about us, all day, everyday. We, many of us do the same regarding churches.....what can you do for me, my children, my marriage, my spiritual maturity...etc. I guess, this is ok....that we all need something or someone to help us when we are infantile, when we are wounded, when we are lost....but at some point we should all grow up. I mean, isn't that the dream of EVERY parent that someday their kid will not only be able to tie their own shoes, wipe their own butts, and clean up after themselves....but also be able to be increasingly less selfish and more selfless? (notice I didn't say more independent....I believe that is an Western-culture thing, not GOD's plan or intent...everything I learn about GOD is about community) It should work this way in marriages, in churches, in work places, in community...that true maturity of an individual is evident in how SELFLESS, or OTHERS-centric they are.
I believe this is a lesson that we continue to learn over and over again, if we are maturing..if we are growing up in the different areas of our lives. My goal was to lose 30lbs before going to Africa so from May 11th to June 25th I worked my butt off. I started with a cleanser, and changed up my eating habits, and developed a work out plan to execute my desired response, and it meant that I had to die to myself daily. I had to willfully choose not to eat after 8pm. I had to willfully choose to consider healthier food choices. I had to willfully choose some mornings to get up at 4:15a to make a 4:45 appointment with people from my church who too, wanted and needed to make some changes. NONE of this was easy, but because I LOVE life, and I love living it to glorify HIM...I pressed on. On June 25th my way in recorded I had lost 28lbs, and while that's not 30, I still celebrated. Since returning back from Africa I am beneath 250lbs, made my goal and have worked to maintain it. But .....this wasn't God's plan.GOD's plan was that I showed people that it's possible. That with a little determination, lots a prayer, and the encouragement of others (MY TEAM)....I can, We can do all things through CHRIST. GOD's plan was for me to meet some folks that otherwise I NEVER would've met at this gym and communicate His love for them, through how I have begun to intentionally pray for them as they too, try to improve their health. There were times on the StairMaster I closed my eyes in the pain of it, to simply consider those that can't.....and prayed for them, or for those that others had asked me to pray for.
To honor the text and context of scripture used it's stated in verse 12: Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
ION (In Other News) I have been told by my bride, that I can't lose anymore weight, so at this point I'm just trying to maintain what I've lost, and chisel it up which I think she's ok with that!
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