“I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God….” But as we travel the road of life there are so many things that tug and pull at the fabric of who we are. There are parts of our personalities that once defined us as good and attractive, and competent, and friendly get torn away from us. We do our best to hold onto the good things as we battle the challenges and demons that present themselves to us. Each of us knows the price we pay to be the best we can be and sometimes the price is too high.
These are simple truths but let’s again use bodybuilding as the crucible that I and an entire culture uses to try our souls to be better. At first, like in every area of life, we learn of the challenge and the rewards for participation in bodybuilding. We ruminate on the entry, the planning, the work required and the rewards to be garnered for our effort. Then one day we say to ourselves, “I’m in and the process begins in earnest.” Along the way we find out that nothing is quick and easy. We want things to be faster but the goals and objectives are always out ahead of us. We push harder and harder to be better but nothing is as it seems. But, we press on!
The unfortunate thing we run into is that other people are constantly attempting to undermine your efforts with harsh criticism and belittling and sarcasm. Ouch! All we want to be is better but there it is! Not everybody wants you to succeed. Ouch again! This process isn’t limited to bodybuilding. It’s a universal truth that weak people can only throw rocks from the sideline rather than going about the business of winning themselves in their own worlds.
The danger of all this is that we can lose the spark that makes us who we are. The spark that propels us down roads rarely traveled by others. The spark that has caused us to have many great friends. That spark that is motivated by love for ourselves and a thousand others. At all costs and with great humility we need to exercise self-mastery in such a way that we are motivated to continue and be protected from the harshness of the world. We were not made to be static objects. We are dynamic warriors marked by God and energized for goodness toward ourselves and everyone we meet.
In closing just know that when your spirit is crushed no good thing can be realized. When the spark that ignites you is present all things are possible. This is the spark that makes you YOU!
Six Pack and Senior 