A Light Bulb Moment

For physical training is of some value; but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. I Timothy 4:8

Fast. Reverse. Squat. Slow. Fast. Pull arms. Push arms. Reverse.

What the heck? The elliptical is kicking my behind. I can't keep up, I'm huffing, I'm puffing, I'm crying for my mama, and I've only been on it for five minutes. I feel the sweat drip down my face, my legs start to shake and I look around to see who might catch me when I start to tumble.

I've been coming to the YMCA for three months now- three times a week. I've climbed aboard the elliptical, opened my book, pushed the quick start button, and gone up and down for 30 minutes each and every time.

Today however, I decided to program the machine and let It tell Me what to do.

Midway through the 30 minutes, as I was hanging on for dear life, I had what might be called a light bulb moment. This is a bit like the way I live my Christian life. I signed up, so to speak, when I asked Jesus into my heart. After that, I meandered my way along- staying with the program but never seeing great results.

Giving God control of my life would likely be the same as programming this machine. I might find myself hanging on for dear life, I might be told abruptly to reverse or to squat, to push or to pull, to use some muscles that I didn't know I had- but I'm betting that the results would be significantly better than what I see as I wander along my own path.

Five minutes after climbing off the machine, weary and sore, I realized I would never go back to the way I had exercised before. I might be sore, I might be tired, but I knew that I had actually worked out. I'm thinking of asking God to take over, to do for my spirit what that machine can do for my body. I have a feeling it will be quite a ride.

Father God, I thank you for the bodies you have made in which our spirits dwell. I pray that we might remember to give You control of all things.

Sally Conkle

But You Were Laughing

My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves. Hebrews 12:6

Blonde, blue eyed Garret, sitting quietly in the pew in front of us suddenly whipped around and gave us a huge grin. Our family serenely smiled back, wiggling our fingers at him before returning our attention to the service in progress. Garrett returned to his seat, put his attention on his coloring, but a few moments later, and whipped around the other way to give us another huge grin. I couldn't help myself, I began to giggle.

I saw his mother out of the corner of my eye, sitting quietly on her end of the pew and giving him a motherly stare. You know what I mean.I patted myself mentally on the back, congratulating myself for having survived those elementary years and let myself be thankful for the 16 year old Nate sitting serenely on my left. Certainly no mother had ever been so blessed.

Garrett continued his erratic behavior through the liturgy and first hymns. The more he whirled and turned, the more tickled I became, and soon our pew was shaking as I tried to contain my laughter.

Then...I saw it. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Nate's hand stealthy reaching out to tap Garrett on the shoulder. By the time Garrett had completed his twist and whirl, Nate was sitting quietly, both hands in his lap, eyes straight ahead. His halo, however, was definitely slipping.

For some reason, this behavior stuck me as even funnier. I started to shake a little more, and Nate glanced sideways and grinned. The moment he made eye contact, I mouthed the word "grounded."

"What!?" His eyebrows rose.
"Grounded" I repeated and he knew I meant it
"But you're LAUGHING"
Yes, indeed I was. I was also still grounding him and he knew it.
Garrett returned to his coloring, and all was peaceful.

I wondered about this event a few days later, when it was evident in my life that the Lord was giving me a little discipline.

"But you were laughing" I wanted to cry out to Him.

I wonder sometimes, if God watches our escapades and chuckles. He loves us to much to let us escape His discipline- this I know. But I bet that sometimes, He is smiling as He doles it out.

Father, we pray for the grace to welcome your discipline, to receive it, to learn, and to live joy filled lives.

Sally Conkle