I’m a health-nut, if I’m not in the gym working out, I’m outside doing something. It’s common for me to be outside while it’s freezing with no sun above.
I’ve gone biking at 18° temperatures and walking in freezing rain. I believe there is no season for getting healthy and that is all I need to stay motivated. Being healthy is a lifestyle like Christianity; it is a 24/7/365-day process, which is God’s speed.
It’s a lot like relationships; they don’t always feel good. The strongest relationships are built by overcoming adversities, not avoiding them.
However, a recent story I saw on TV noted that most people stay in relationships just because they feel comfortable. No wonder so many people fall out of love and get divorced these days, that’s bad romance. What love is this that requires no commitment, just comfort?
A lot of people where I live think I’m crazy for staying outside in the winter. But, I think people are crazy for not getting outside and keeping the rythm going. After I lost the ability to walk, I had to fight to get back to walking and I cherish every day I get to walk.
Being active this time a year has benefits. It helps me enjoy the little things in life that others happen to miss. When I’m out in the countryside biking in the cold air I feel closer to God, He’s still here.
Because everyone is staying inside trying to stay comfortable; ironically, that is what makes people sick. Viruses and diseases multiply in warm humid places. Cold temperatures kill viruses.
It’s why hospitals keep the temperature cool. I have never gotten a flu shot and never gotten the flu, I rarely get sick despite being outside in the freezing cold and rain. It isn’t a comfortable feeling when the cold air hits my face biking at 30 miles an hour or more. But, being healthy isn’t about being comfortable. Comfort makes us lazy (Proverbs 19:15).
Comfort?
Comfort is a state of physical ease or freedom from physical pain or constraint. While this may seem desirable, it’s a false sense of safety. If circumstances were to change, there would be chaos. This is why so many people never find joy; their lives are in constant flux with their emotions.
It's like not pushing yourself in the gym. Of course, we may feel good for the time being, but when we don't get the results we desire it can be upsetting. But, if we give all we have in the gym, the pain will give us the results we are striving for. My motto is you never get maximum results by giving minimum effort.
This applies to all areas of life. Lack of discipline makes us weak. The saints were more concerned about comfort and being safe, they wanted their heaven then.
Despite Jesus telling them to go spread the gospel, they wanted to play it safe. We're living in those times again with everyone trying to take the easier path and play it safe. We have a whole generation of Christians who say they want to change the world, but can’t seem to get beyond their parents’ houses.
While it’s a scary world out there, it’s okay; millennials need to understand the challenges of life help us grow. Being on our own helps us to learn discipline and responsibility. Living under the cover of our parents is only for a season. There’s more to life than just dreams and good times.
That’s why we don’t stay in our mother’s womb until we are completely finished growing. The forces of nature help us to grow and develop. Until this generation understands this, they’ll never respect that.
Colleges are being inundated with students who can’t perform the basic necessities of life. They don’t how to cook or wash clothes. They’ve never had to take care of themselves before.
If you never face opposition, there is no reason to grow up. Same for the church, God never promised that we wouldn’t face trials in life, He promised to be with us and to comfort us when the opposition comes (Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10). No, we are not alone.
Opposition?
Avoiding difficulties is like working out with no weight or resistance, it doesn't make us stronger. The opposition isn’t bad for us. In college, I learned about a study in psychology that focused on whether or not people with the same interests had stronger relationships than opposites. This explains why I’m not attracted to gym chicks, change starts with me in my heart.
The study showed over time relationships with no challenges pushed the individuals apart when they hit the crae crae button. This is why most of us are thrill seekers, we want to grow and opposition pushes us beyond our comfort zones. I like culture; I’m drawn to different backgrounds. Most of my closest friends are from different ethnicities.
J.K. Rowling once noted, “It is impossible to live without failing at something … unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.”
In my freshman year in college, I made the decision to move put to be closer to school. It was scary at first. But, it didn’t take long for me to make new friends and to start enjoying new experiences that still overflow into my life today.
It helped me build confidence in the man I was becoming. I made lifelong friends who I still keep in touch with now. We were all still growing. It wasn’t until after my accident that I learned the human brain continues to grow until around age 25.
I never would have learned that if I never almost died in that car accident 22 years ago. But the difficulties that come from having a brain injury and scars have only made me stronger because I have no choice but to get out of my comfort zone.
I’ve gone biking at 18° temperatures and walking in freezing rain. I believe there is no season for getting healthy and that is all I need to stay motivated. Being healthy is a lifestyle like Christianity; it is a 24/7/365-day process, which is God’s speed.
It’s a lot like relationships; they don’t always feel good. The strongest relationships are built by overcoming adversities, not avoiding them.
However, a recent story I saw on TV noted that most people stay in relationships just because they feel comfortable. No wonder so many people fall out of love and get divorced these days, that’s bad romance. What love is this that requires no commitment, just comfort?
A lot of people where I live think I’m crazy for staying outside in the winter. But, I think people are crazy for not getting outside and keeping the rythm going. After I lost the ability to walk, I had to fight to get back to walking and I cherish every day I get to walk.
Being active this time a year has benefits. It helps me enjoy the little things in life that others happen to miss. When I’m out in the countryside biking in the cold air I feel closer to God, He’s still here.
Because everyone is staying inside trying to stay comfortable; ironically, that is what makes people sick. Viruses and diseases multiply in warm humid places. Cold temperatures kill viruses.
It’s why hospitals keep the temperature cool. I have never gotten a flu shot and never gotten the flu, I rarely get sick despite being outside in the freezing cold and rain. It isn’t a comfortable feeling when the cold air hits my face biking at 30 miles an hour or more. But, being healthy isn’t about being comfortable. Comfort makes us lazy (Proverbs 19:15).
Comfort?
Comfort is a state of physical ease or freedom from physical pain or constraint. While this may seem desirable, it’s a false sense of safety. If circumstances were to change, there would be chaos. This is why so many people never find joy; their lives are in constant flux with their emotions.
It's like not pushing yourself in the gym. Of course, we may feel good for the time being, but when we don't get the results we desire it can be upsetting. But, if we give all we have in the gym, the pain will give us the results we are striving for. My motto is you never get maximum results by giving minimum effort.
This applies to all areas of life. Lack of discipline makes us weak. The saints were more concerned about comfort and being safe, they wanted their heaven then.
Despite Jesus telling them to go spread the gospel, they wanted to play it safe. We're living in those times again with everyone trying to take the easier path and play it safe. We have a whole generation of Christians who say they want to change the world, but can’t seem to get beyond their parents’ houses.
While it’s a scary world out there, it’s okay; millennials need to understand the challenges of life help us grow. Being on our own helps us to learn discipline and responsibility. Living under the cover of our parents is only for a season. There’s more to life than just dreams and good times.
That’s why we don’t stay in our mother’s womb until we are completely finished growing. The forces of nature help us to grow and develop. Until this generation understands this, they’ll never respect that.
Colleges are being inundated with students who can’t perform the basic necessities of life. They don’t how to cook or wash clothes. They’ve never had to take care of themselves before.
If you never face opposition, there is no reason to grow up. Same for the church, God never promised that we wouldn’t face trials in life, He promised to be with us and to comfort us when the opposition comes (Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10). No, we are not alone.
Opposition?
Avoiding difficulties is like working out with no weight or resistance, it doesn't make us stronger. The opposition isn’t bad for us. In college, I learned about a study in psychology that focused on whether or not people with the same interests had stronger relationships than opposites. This explains why I’m not attracted to gym chicks, change starts with me in my heart.
The study showed over time relationships with no challenges pushed the individuals apart when they hit the crae crae button. This is why most of us are thrill seekers, we want to grow and opposition pushes us beyond our comfort zones. I like culture; I’m drawn to different backgrounds. Most of my closest friends are from different ethnicities.
J.K. Rowling once noted, “It is impossible to live without failing at something … unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.”
In my freshman year in college, I made the decision to move put to be closer to school. It was scary at first. But, it didn’t take long for me to make new friends and to start enjoying new experiences that still overflow into my life today.
It helped me build confidence in the man I was becoming. I made lifelong friends who I still keep in touch with now. We were all still growing. It wasn’t until after my accident that I learned the human brain continues to grow until around age 25.
I never would have learned that if I never almost died in that car accident 22 years ago. But the difficulties that come from having a brain injury and scars have only made me stronger because I have no choice but to get out of my comfort zone.
Thank you for the reminder to step out of our comfort zone! Whether that's for spiritual growth or physical, it's a good policy to keep in mind!
ReplyDeleteI suppose I'm labeled as a "health-nut" too. I'm serious about it because God gifted us with an amazing body and I believe we honor him by taking care of our body to keep it healthy. It's a commitment and we can better serve our Lord when we are healthy and fit.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this reminder that comfort is not necessarily a beneficial goal. Stretching our muscles and our faith promote strength. Thank you.
ReplyDelete