How did we get here? I sipped my coffee, enjoying the cool evening breeze, contemplating life as I sat on our backyard patio while Terri was at her yoga class. Back in the day, Sweet T and I used to go the gym regularly. We would even go together.
Overweight, out of shape. That’s me. Something has to change, I thought.
Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.
Tony Robbins
After a number of years of taking up space in the garage, I took my bike out for a spin around the neighborhood earlier this week. In recent months, Terri and I began focusing more on our physical health while we continue healing spiritually. As we look back, the last last five to six years threw a series of curveballs in our life, derailing any attempts at living a consistently healthier lifestyle. The Great COVID Invasion of 2020, made that even more challenging. For us, living healthier means making better food choices and carving out time for exercise.
Whether it involves healing from a hurt or breaking a deadly habit, recovery is hard. It requires time and demands commitment.
Sweet T has been running ahead of me on this one for sure. Since the beginning of the year, she’s been more dedicated to physical exercise. She’s been attending a yoga class twice a week and now, through the generosity of her employer, is able to work out in the company gym several times a week. Terri started yoga to increase her flexibility. One of the things we have discovered as we get older is the harsh truth that our bodies become less flexible .
Me? I’m just getting started.
Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are all part of living a healthy lifestyle and honoring the Lord with our bodies.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Our schedules don’t really align for us to walk together very often during the week, so we started walking together on the weekends. Walking is helping us heal spiritually as much as it is helping us be in better shape physically. The truth is, I love spending time with Terri and if working out is something that allows us to do that, than I am all in.
I’ve mentioned in several previous posts that we’ve been looking for a new place of worship since leaving our home church at the end of last year. 2020, politics and the pandemic, truly did a number on churches. I see many faithful followers of Jesus searching for new places to worship. I’m not sure what’s up with that, but I can only presume God’s up to something. In the meantime, Terri and I are walking through a spiritual recovery.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Truth is, I’m just happy to spend time with my bride, so if that means being a gym rat, so be it.
How about you? Are you struggling more physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually since the COVID pandemic invaded our lives?
Please know that I am grateful for you, dear reader. Please continue to share, comment, and like The Devotional Guy™. Stay healthy. Be safe. Keep the faith. Share the gospel. Show mercy. Be Bold. Be Unashamed.
Humbly,
The Devotional Guy™
Please comment and like this post if it encouraged or challenged you. Be sure to follow this blog to be notified of new posts.
The Devotional Guy™ 
I believe I confided in you once before, that COVID caused rifts between people in my church. There was the, “We trust God to keep us safe,” group, and there was the, “We need to do all we can to keep EVERYONE safe,” group. Sadly, the damage to our fellowship, not to mention relationships, remains. On a happier note, my wife and I enjoy walking and running together. God’s best to you and Sweet T.
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Yes, indeed. Thanks, David. The other day T said “You ought to drive up to Oklahoma and meet David for coffee.” Have a beautiful weekend, brother.
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Sounds like a good opportunity for fellowship, brother! Maybe we could meet halfway sometime? My dad grew up in Ardmore, OK, which is right off I-35 in south central Oklahoma.
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We will definitely have to make it happen. Shoot me an email through WP and we can get to work on the details.
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Hi brother, I can definitely relate to the middle age crisis which I must confess I have been trying to ignore. But lately I have been trying to lose extra pounds, ok stones to be honest!😐 Health issues and Covid combined have made life difficult over the last year, but praise the Lord He has our back if we seek Him in prayer. God bless you and Terri this weekend.
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Thank you, Alan. Yes, God is in our corner. He is for us. Blessings, brother.
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“Whether it involves healing from a hurt or breaking a deadly habit, recovery is hard. It requires time and demands commitment.” So very true. Thanks for sharing your journey.
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You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on this post!
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I’m still at the “thinking I should get in better shape” stage.
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😂 I completely understand. Thanks for reading, Gary.
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I looked on your website for an email address, but didn’t find one, Rainer. Mine is davidsdailydose@yahoo.com.
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I completely understand
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I’m grateful for Adi’s daily walk requirement which has physical, emotional (being outside always boosts my spirits), and spiritual (it’s my time to pray) benefits. Based on the signs I see at our local trails, walking cats on a leash is apparently something feasible. Maybe one of your cats would be more amenable to that idea than our tortoise shell. Our daughter tried to train her to a leash only the cat mastered the art of slipping the harness. So you pose a good closing question. As an introvert, I thrived in all ways during the lockdown. Right now I’m struggling with physical and mental exhaustion as the myriad of activities and events picks back up again. I guess in the lockdown I lost my social endurance that I had built up over the years. I’m hoping I will regain that with time.
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Being outside, going for walks, spending time with our fur babies is always healing and uplifting for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences, Beth.
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Ranier, thanks for sharing some inspiration. My own exercise regimen has taken a hit in recent days. Walking and indoor biking are my two main activities. Being pre-diabetic, I need to get moving again.
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I am so thankful to have stumbled upon your blog tonight in my wordpress-rookieness! May God continue to bless you and Sweet T abundantly!
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Thank you! I’m glad you found my blog as well!
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Yes! Staying active is important. Blessings!
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Thanks for reading!
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