Friends, I need to get something off of my chest. I did something today that I haven't done in about 15 years. In fact, I was surprised how quickly the addiction came back. It was powerful, too powerful to ignore, so I succumbed and gave myself to the emotion and the passion of the experience...
Friends, I rode a brand new bike! For the first time I rode my brand new Trek Cruisliner to the office! Can you believe it!?!?
I am what you would call a "big and tall man," so finding a bike that is comfortable and supports my girth is a daunting task. I've always been a rather large human being who has left a large carbon footprint on this blue and green spinning ball. Yet, over the last several years, I have begun to come to terms with my struggle to be a good steward on every level: materialistically, physically, emotionally, sociologically, politically, and energetically. What I do with my whole being as an integrated person of faith I have come to understand is vitally important. As Paul indicates in his first letter to the church in Corinth, "if one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers." In the same vein, if one part of our "personhood" - our being created in and renewed in the image of God - person suffers, then the whole self suffers as well.
So, as the subtitle of my blog indicates I am seeking to live the integrated life; a life of body, soul, and spirit, not as separate entities of dualistic dimensions, but as a living microcosm of the Triune God I worship, whose image I am created in. I am on a quest to get healthy, love more, give of myself - time, energy, money, talents, friendship - more liberally so that every aspect of my life resonates with this holistic understanding of the life of faith.
I need your prayers and support. In future posts I will be a bit more transparent about my physical fitness goals and the point from which I am beginning. For most of my life I have treated my weight as "the thing of whose name we shall not speak" but it's time to come clean! I'm also in the process of organizing this new initiative around a noble cause; to raise money to support the eradication of global hunger. There are many organizations out there, and I have contacted some - I want to be their Jared, you know, the guy who sells the subs that he ate while he lost all the weight. Except I don't want you to buy a sub. I want you to feed a hungry person; I want to take food out of my mouth so you can support someone else by putting food in theirs; I want you to share what you have with others who have not!
Well there, I guess I've said it now. You can't get more public that cyberspace. Stay tuned my friends. Thanks for taking you time to stop buy!
And ironically, during this season of personal discernment, Carlos Whittaker over at RagamuffinSoul inspired me with his Ragamuffin Top Challenge, to get active, eat healthy, and lose some extra pounds. While I haven't yet formally signed on board, Carlos man, I'm wittcha!
Peace,
E