Living well—physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually—requires a level of consistency that many of us (including me!) struggle to maintain. In these final days of 2023, we will make or hear about New Year’s resolutions.
Eat better.
Workout more.
Pursue that new hobby.
Start journaling.
Write letters to certain people.
The list goes on and on. Each notion full of good intentions, yet most will not be achieved to the levels we envision.
For many years, I have participated in weekly small groups and early morning gatherings where people of faith read scripture and discern how it applies to our lives. One of my fellowship mates calls this “spiritual weightlifting.” Much like a consistent routine of actual weightlifting makes us physically stronger, spiritual weightlifting has tremendous benefits as well. In fact, I contend that spiritual weightlifting is the most important type of workout we can do.
Investing in our spiritual strength, of course, benefits our faith life. But more so, building stronger faith muscles benefits every aspect of our lives. It helps us moderate the extremes and temptations of consumption, overwork, and the many evils lurking around us. It can make us kinder and more compassionate versions of ourselves. And even in the moments when we inevitably show up in less admirable ways (we are only human, after all), strengthening our faith allows us to show up more consistently, meaning those around us will have a better sense of how we are likely to react in a given situation.
Life has shown me that being a more consistent version of myself is just as important as being a better version of myself.
Spiritual weightlifting can be done alone, perhaps by committing to start each day by reading scripture or quietly connecting with our surroundings. It can be done in small groups, and it can be done in larger communities, including weekly attendance at religious services and regular engagement in service to the underserved. Not surprisingly, the best way to build spiritual strength is to cross-train, incorporating all three levels of exercise—individual, small group, and community.
So let’s raise a proverbial glass to the change of the calendar, and let’s resolve to get our butts into the spiritual gym more regularly in the year ahead.
With peace and gratitude,
Bill