Christine, is quietly sleeping in the room next door. I can hear her breathing ever so softly interrupted only by a moan when she tries to turn over or shift her legs around. Cuddling last night was an impossibility due to our sore bodies from this week’s intense training. In particular, our abs and our thighs are toasted. Sitting straight up is painful and walking is an experience that can only be described as stiff, tight, and unforgiving with each step. Thus, she rests and today we will continue to enjoy a day of life-giving rest.
Christine, has stepped in to the journey with me as an active participant. She has been doing her own thing for the last couple of years while I worked in my own world—both of us alone. But, since she has grabbed the same vision she has decided to extrapolate all that I do into her world. She stay with me each rep, each set, modifies her weights to accommodate her frame. She looks fantastic and is determined to push us both forward. What a trooper! I am entirely self-motivated but Christine provides the emotional fuel that only she can give. So, as a result, we are exhausted together, sore together, and now traveling together toward the goal.
But, regarding “A Day of Rest — and how it can help. Coach (like God) has asked that we take a day just to allow our bodies, our minds, and our spirits to rest. In the rhythm of our journey it falls every 7th day. We are so excited to nap, to eat food we normally do not eat the other 6 days. Christine, for instance, awoke us to the smell of pancakes with little nuggets of butterscotch embedded in each pancake. Next, she had prepared real cherry sauce to put over the pancakes. Needless to say, the breakfast of disappeared in nothing flat. I, being always hungry insisted on having oatmeal after the pancakes. After breakfast we spent some very precious moments discussing genealogy with my daughter Liz who has a Masters in Library Science with a particular interest as an Archivist. Precious moments of interaction. Next, we went back to bed for a few minutes falling into deep REM sleep instantly.
We are now in church. Rejuvenation of our spirits is occurring as we remember that this journey of life and bodybuilding is NOT the most important thing in our lives. We are all subject to Master’s Touch regarding eternal things. WE are submitted and committed to the Coach’s Touch on this quest to win at the National level.
As much as we seek to please and to accomplish things seemingly beyond our capacity to attain, we are instructed with love to Rest.
Today is that day. We are resting from the rigors of life and the “VECTOR” to the top. Let all of us rest and then “kick the door open tomorrow and get out there and do our jobs!”
Douglas E. Graham
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Six Pack and Senior 