Over the past several weeks I have augmented my time on the elliptical with swimming laps in my pool. After the first few sessions I was amazed at how few laps I could do. After a couple of up and backs my chest heaved and couldn't seem to draw in enough oxygen to satisfy. Yet I regularly spend an hour on my elliptical and my heart remains quiet and my breathing normal. Apparently swimming uses an entirely different set of muscles than does my elliptical work. It is also apparent that after many years of doing one sort of exercise, my body has become inured to the rigors and demands. Yet the moment I try something different, new aches and pains and, well, growth takes place.
For many years I have spent my devotional time in reading. I remember how fired up I used to get and how passionately I used to dive into these books. I used to take pages of notes and spend time considering carefully the discussion questions. Now, as I read I find that I stay relaxed. No pitter patter of my heart or my mind. Too often I do no more than glance at the discussion questions before I turn the page and move on. Perhaps it is time that I seek out a different approach to begin to tax a different set of spiritual muscles.
