Ice Cream and Exercise

We bought a 'Bowflex' exercise machine a few years back. It gets used quite a lot, really. Jene' and Chris are getting good use out of it since I hauled it to their house. I tried the Bowflex but it made me hungry and then I was too sore to really enjoy using the spoon and actually, if you aren't too cheap to buy the good ice cream you get quite a work out just scooping a high fat content ice cream out of the carton. And then there is the exercise in peeling the banana, cracking the nuts, whipping the cream, shaving the chocolate, grating the coconut...

I got this little "funny" on exercise from my Uncle Dan. I was reminded of not only my ability to justify not exercising, but also many other things in my life, both good and bad. It isn't just that I dislike discipline, actually I admire discipline in others as long as it isn't used to induce guilt in me. I dislike the compulsion I feel to justify my lack of discipline. And, I really hate it when I hear others always trying to justify their wrong behavior, poor choices, weak ideology and lack of ethics. 

I suppose that the real issue with me is motivation. I'm just not motivated by guilt, and not very well motivated by fear. I'm motivated by curiosity. Whatever intrigues me - consumes me.

It works out well for me when it comes to pastoral work because I'm really interested in people, their stories and their lives. I'm fascinated with Biblical consistency and theological development. I'm intrigued with the sociological expressions of spirituality that we call 'religion.'

So...I don't have difficulty being motivated to make pastoral calls, study and prepare sermons, teaching sessions, etc.

I have yet to find anything intriguing about physical exercise for the sake of exercise.

Here's the article:

Subject: Ten thoughts on exercise

It is said that for every minute that you exercise, you add one minute to your life. This will enable you at 80 years of age to spend an additional five months in a nursing home at $5,000 per month.

1)   My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 now, but we don't know where the heck she is.

2)   The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

3)   I joined a health club once, spent about 400 bucks and didn't lose a pound. Apparently you have to show up.

4)   I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

5)   I don't exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes, He would have put them further up on our body.

6)   I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

7)   I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

8)   The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.

9)   If you are going to try cross-country skiing, you should start with a small country.

10) I don't exercise because it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

I think I shall make another effort at exercise, just not on any machine - Bowflex or whatever. No, I don't think I will ever look like the young fellow in the Boxflex advertisement (he's 42, I believe). It's just that I don't want folks thinking I'm a UPS truck when I wear a brown suit (which is one reason I no longer wear brown).

Yes, I'm going to start exercising, just as soon as I finish this bowl of ice cream...