#7 Why Ben needs to stop going to the gym

An Open Letter to a Fellow Disciple

Dear Ben,

I am sorry I have to share this in such a public forum, but my attempts to have this conversation in private have come to no avail. 

We are friends, aren’t we?

When we first met as twelve-year-olds in that tent in Wales, I knew right away we would be life-long buddies. We have laughed, cried, and prayed together. You were even the Best Man at my Wedding.

We’ve had some fun Ben, haven’t we?

Remember that time we tainted the baptism pool at church with orange paint? Or when we threw darts at our room-mate’s vintage Care Bear collection? How about your response when I froze all your underwear and you had to go commando for a week?

Ah, sweet memories!

Of course, there have been some tough times too…

• Like when you leant me your flammable glue for my University art project and I set my room on fire at 3am.

• Do you remember when you practised your JuJitsu moves on me until I blacked out? I don’t. Remember, that is.

• I’m sorry that I once made you so angry, due to my constant teasing, that you wrote a poem about me called “The Plague of Everywhere.”

• And yes, I still wake up feeling the occasional tinge of guilt that I ran over you with my car.

Yet somehow Dave and Ben’s Excellent Adventures have lived on.

And so it pains me to have to address the pressing issue at hand. 

But, here goes…

Ben, you need to stop going to the gym. 

Or to put it more precisely, you need to stop just going to the gym.

I know you show up there all the time. But the problem I have is this; You think that showing up is enough to call yourself a fitness freak. 

Becoming healthy is about so much more than that. 

Ben, I know the secret of what you do when you get to the gym every morning. 

Absolutely nothing.

You sign in. You say hello to your fellow gym buddies. You get in the jacuzzi and indulge in a quick sauna. Then you have a shower and go off to work.

Never once have you broken a sweat in two-and-a-half-years of membership!

Even when we turn up together to use the outdoor pool, I seem to be the one doing all the swimming. You just float gently alongside me as we chat about our mutual experience of ‘marrying up’.

I suppose we could try to put the liability on your fitness instructors? Perhaps they should force you to be more accountable? Or what about your fellow gym-goers? Don't they have a role to help you flourish?

Or maybe if the place wasn't so comfortable? Your fitness journey has to be about more than the atmosphere of the building, soaking up the trendy social scene, or being a paid up member of the club. 

No matter how much we play the blame game here, it's better for your long-term health, if you start to take responsibility for yourself. 

Experts advise that if you are struggling to find the motivation to exercise, then you ought to do one small thing like fill up your water bottle or put on your running shoes. They say if you complete a simple task then you can consider your workout a success on the way to forming a habit.

But seriously Ben, you've been doing your laces up for two whole years!

• It’s time to get on the treadmill.

• Why not actually swim a few lengths?

• Take a spin class?

• You could even jog from the car park to the gym reception!

• There is so much more for you than being a passive attendee.

Don’t just be a gym-goer. Enjoy being an actual athlete!

Isn’t it time you did a little more than just show up? 

Your friend and brother,

Dave

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Ben Responds…

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Dear Dave,

Thank you for your thought-provoking message.

But I fear you need to take the plank out of your own eyes, before you try to put the swimming goggles on mine.

Because, my friend, I have a pressing issue that needs to be sorted with you too.

Dave, you need to stop going to church.

Or to put it more precisely, you need to stop just going to church.

I know you show up there all the time. But the problem I have is this; You think that showing up is enough to call yourself a Jesus freak. 

You say hello to your fellow church buddies. You sing the songs. You put your change in the offering basket. I've even seen you take communion. Then you say a quick prayer before getting on with your day. 

Following Jesus is about so much more than that.

I suppose we could try to put the liability on your pastors? Perhaps they should force you to be more accountable? Or what about your fellow church-goers? Don't they have a role to help you flourish?

Or maybe if the place wasn't so comfortable? Your faith journey has to be about more than the atmosphere of the building, soaking up the trendy social scene, or being a paid up member of the club. 

No matter how much we play the blame game here, it's better for your long-term spiritual health if you start to take responsibility for yourself.

It starts with surrender on Monday as well as Sunday.

My life coach Paul puts it like this:

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12

Because seriously Dave, you've been on the starting blocks for too long.

• Isn't it time to let God transform you from the inside out? 

• Let him love you deeply, my friend. And that love will spill over into your life 24/7. 

• Love will compel you to get actively involved in God’s plan to change the world!

• Even your everyday acts, like going to the gym, can become an act of worship.

• There is so much more for you than being a passive attendee.

Don’t just be a church-goer. Enjoy being an actual disciple!

Isn’t it time you did a little more than just show up? 

Your friend and brother,

Ben

What does being more than a passive attendee look like for you?

P.S: Special thanks to my best mate Ben, who coordinated a spontaneous (and slightly dodgy) photoshoot with me at the gym for this PARALLEL post.