"So, Start Small"
Our eldest son, Matt, works out regularly at a locally owned gym in west county St. Louis. It has a curious focal wall inside that features the company’s logo against a background of honeycombs. I had to look at a picture of the wall for quite a while before I caught on to the genius of it all. We all know bees are busy, industrious, and sometimes stinging creatures. But did you know how remarkable it is that they build waxy trays of hexagons into which they deposit and store their sweet and delicious honey?
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| Photo credit: The Iron Hive www.theironhive.com |
Experienced beekeepers will tell you that those multiple
thousands of honey-filled hexagon cells are sturdy, enduring, and do not waste
any storage space. They are also able to sustain a lot of weight when the hive
is at capacity. In addition, the smooth edges protect the larvae from sharp
punctures. Overall, this design suits the bees perfectly. Which brings me back
to why this logo and background are perfect for a setting promoting fitness and
health.
The Iron Hive
is a fitness center and workout gym that promotes community and health through
exercise. And the “beehive” theme in their logo is a perfect way to depict what
their purpose seems to be. I get it now! Who doesn’t need such a vibrant setting
for building strength and stamina as well as muscle, bone, and cardio health? One
of the trainers even markets his approach as “getting guys fit for hunting!”
Now, that’s another winning motivation!
James Clear is a mentor to many of us. He is a popular
motivational speaker, writer, and has authored the New York Times bestseller, Atomic
Habits. Clear is a specialist in helping his readers to distill down the
challenges of life into developing daily simple habits in bite-sized pieces.
Many will shy away from big and intimidating goals or resolutions at the
beginning of a new year. The fear of failure often wrecks their best intentions
and then they give up!
Clear offers some practical and “sizable” advice that
has a wider application than just trying to get into shape. If you are facing a
need for change in your habits, employment, or you are undertaking a big decision
in 2024, consider this wise counsel from James Clear. He suggests, “It’s easier
to optimize a modest start than to begin with a perfect start. Starting is the
hard part, so start small and get in the mix. You’ll learn a lot and you’ll realize
you don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.”
What does your modest start look like? In terms of exercise,
start small. A few years ago, I wrote about my journey toward a more fit lifestyle.
I knew I needed to get moving if I was going to feel better. I had heard a suggestion
on the radio about starting a thirty-minute daily regimen of exercise and
immediately thought, “I can do that!” This was doable, bite-sized, and ended up
making a significant impact on my overall health - physically, mentally, and even
spiritually!
Jesus chided his disciples one day when they had
failed to help a boy suffering with a severe emotional issue brought on by an
evil force. Moments later and in private with them, Jesus addressed their
question of why they couldn’t help the boy. He said to them, “Because you’re
not taking God seriously. The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith,
a poppy seed, say, you would tell the mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There
is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.” (Matthew 17:19-21, MSG).
When I consider the potential in a mustard seed or
poppy seed like faith, I must admit, “I can have that much faith and confidence
in my great God!” So, you can start small in trusting God, but you don’t have
to stay with small faith! Let’s “get in the mix” and learn as we go that we can
put all our trust and confidence in God knowing that nothing is impossible to
those who believe like that! So, start small and trust God for
all the rest!
Check this out: https://www.mjkministries.com/2019/03/a-lifestyle-of-fitness.html
Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
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