Supplements

"I pray that . . . (God) may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:16)

 

The fitness center in which I work out several times a week has pictures on the wall of club members who have won prizes in regional bodybuilding contests.  One of them is of a fierce looking man who often has his workout at the same time of day-early morning - as I do.  He has a shaved head, long mustache and eyes that bore holes through the air.  His time in the gym is alone time - Mr. Bodybuilder never speaks to anyone or even acknowledges that others of us are in the gym.  The picture on the wall of his finely chiseled body in full flex pose, wearing the championship belt of the Masters Division (age 50 and above), is a reminder of who the alpha male is in this neck of the woods.

One holiday morning the club attendant was late arriving.  Several of us sat in our cars, listening to radios, waiting for the doors to open.  Mr. Bodybuilder drove up in a canary-yellow convertible and started pacing up and down on the strip mall sidewalk.  After a five-minute wait, he strode back to his car and said the only words I've ever heard him speak: "I can't wait! I've got supplements to take!"

The only supplements I take are jam on toast and cream in coffee.  But apparently there are additives available that do more than stimulate the palate.  Some seem to help one look like a Michelangelo statue.  What if there were also supplements available to help improve one's attitude?  A friendship pill, a good-cheer capsule, or a relax-and-smile tablet might help some I know.  Some need persistence supplements, others could use a self-worth additive.  Many would benefit from salting their breakfast with determination and a positive spirit. 

What was impressive about Mr. Bodybuilder's commitment was his discipline.  His supplements were taken at a certain time, with determined regularity.  Nothing was going to prevent that from happening.  The benefit of similar discipline in prayer . . . in study . . . in serving those in need . . . in worship . . . in building relationships within one's family-who can tell what kind of championship awaits the one who faithfully develops the inner being? 

 So when I saw another man on an exercise bike in the gym reading a Bible the other morning, I strode back to my car thinking, "I've got supplements to take!"

Copyright 2009 Dr. Michael A. Halleen.