I turned 25 and my metabolism broke, at least that is what I have told myself as an excuse as well as a reassurance of the possibility that it may indeed fix itself. In this whole idea of focus I haven't talked much about my focus, but I did tell you briefly that my declining health had reached critical mass as had my waistline.
Now I know some of you are thinking, "Peter, don't be ridiculous you are the very definition of man," and for that I thank you, but I have also begun to realize that I am not 17 anymore and I don't burn 1,000 calories a day swimming in a speedo (you're welcome for that mental image). I have also realized that there is this crazy thing called metabolism that God created to keep us honest about the foods we ingest and about the same time we are forced to pay taxes he slows this thing down, way down. I don't listen to country music much anymore, but it reminds me of the line in Trace Adkins song "Hot Mama" that says, "you want that body back you had at 17." So in case you were wondering, yes, I want to be a hot mama.
In my study about focus this little diddy came up in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."
Dangit.
This idea of remaining healthy and staying fit has always been something that was in the back of my mind even when I could wear a size 30 speedo and my man thighs didn't rip the bottom seam of my suit. I knew my whole life I was going to have to be aware of my weight when I got older because my Dad struggled with his weight as he aged.
About 5 weeks ago I hit a weight that I never wanted to be and beyond that a waist size I can barely count to. I decided something needed to change, I needed to focus. I needed to make my body a slave to the discipline that not only are we called to as Christians but also to my commitment to be on this earth as long as I can for the furthering of the message of Christ and for the well-being of my family (yes, they are better off with me here, at least at this point in our lives).
This focus hasn't been easy and as I write this we are having some friends and family come over to eat pizza and hang out with babies. A perfect night as long as I don't give in to the temptation of blurring my focus. The fact is that it is easier to blur your eyes when they are in focus than to try and focus them when you need glasses.
Focus needs to remain at the forefront of my thoughts, the verse that has torn my to shreds is 1 Corinthians 3:13-14 (which I talk about in my first post) and in that passage the term "strain forward" shows up. In order to focus I have to strain forward, and that word strain conjures up feelings of pain and constancy, which is what we have to endure in order to focus. At times we need to endure pain and we always must remain constant lest we fall back into our old habits.
So my weight is not yet under control but I have remained focused in my pursuit to get it there. In other words I have 5 weeks down and about my whole life to go. Focus, it isn't always easy, but my straining forward will allow me to reach my desired goal.
What goals do you have that you need to strain for? What areas of your life do you need to discipline? How big is your waist line? (Just kidding).
Have a good weekend all.
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