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Those of you who know me, know I truly believe in a holistic view of health- meaning I believe that complete health comes from physical, mental, emotional, AND spiritual health- combined. Yet of all the things I've blogged about, written about, and emailed my clients about, spiritual health has seemed to have fallen by the wayside. I guess that's because of all the things I've written about, the fact that I pray daily is something I've been rather sheepish about. Confessing that I believe in God and work to cultivate a relationship with Him is something that's been harder for me to discuss- I guess because along with owning up to a connection with God, comes the "Jesus Freak" connotation. You know what I mean. The "holier then thou", "believe as I believe" Bible thumping hands raised in the air in obnoxious worship type personality that drives everyone (including me) MAD with annoyance.
Well, it's safe to say I'm NOT one of those. Not even close. My prayers are pretty simple. Most times they feel more like conversations then anything formal. In fact sometimes they're hardly prayers at all, more or less comments to God throughout the day, statements made when I'm flustered, or declarations made during dark moments. "Okay, God, little help here", I'll say, or I'll ask for direction on how to do or say the right thing. I try to open my heart up so the next day will be just a little bit better. I don't tell many people I do this, especially most of the fitness people I tend to surround myself with. A sport so focused on the body does not tend to be a foundation for "God discussion." I know most people tend to get uncomfortable as soon as the God topic comes up. I know I did. In fact some of you are probably twitchy right about now.
Since I've started making a living in fitness and nutrition I've been realizing more and more just how many divine little mysteries lie in our everyday lives. Who figured out how to connect the muscles in the body? Who propels the body to run, to lift, to jump, to swim? Who figured out that some beets should be red, others golden, and some swirled like candy canes? What blessed entity invented cacao pods and vanilla beans or figured out that salt can preserve or brighten anything? What are we to make of a hundred different varieties of lettuce and the brilliant combinations of apple families and different oranges and pears and potato varieties? Who created melons and pork and peanuts? Or the miracle that is peanut butter??
Things get mysteriously divine if you start thinking about the way the body works and the way our bodies metabolize and handle different foods. When you consider food varieties and the miracle that is nutrition, you start to think about the miracle of the human body- what it can do, what it's capable of, and what we do with it on a daily basis as athletes.
So much of what we do is grounded in faith- we try a certain exercise because a trainer told us to- and we have faith it will work. We do the same with our nutrition. Because someone told us oats and sweet potatos over doughnuts and cereal, we have faith. We take chances grounded in what we're told because we have faith we are doing the right thing. And once we tried those exercises, or those foods, we became believers, because we saw they worked. We spread the word to others, who tried them in faith as well, they became believers. Entire cultures have been built on similar levels of faith and trust.
Maybe you can argue away all of that "magic" through cold hard science. It's not God but science that dictates how our bodies work, how we metabolize food, etc. Well, fine. So let's move to something you CAN'T use science to argue about. Can the cold hard facts of science explain that magic moment that settles into a person's eyes when they LOVE a new exercise? Or the look on a woman's face when she sees that scale drop 5 lbs? What about the explanation of the way it feels to run, steady and strong? People glow when they exercise, when they eat right, when they feel GOOD about themselves. To me, those types of moments, those "zen" moments ought to be proof to ANYONE that something greater then us is at work here. It's part of why I have faith, but it doesn't explain why I pray my ass off daily.
I suppose I don't discuss it because I don't want to give the wrong impression. Maybe it's because I'm afraid it makes me look weak. I suppose I assume some people will scoff. There are assumptions that come with praying, and the last thing I want is to be lumped into the "religious zealot" category of Bible bumping crazies.
There is a saying that "religion is for those who fear hell, and spirituality is for those who have been there." Now I'm not saying I've been through a hurricane, but I have been through my own little piece of hell, and I have been tested. Being tested strengthens faith, and that's the kind of faith I want. The kind that's been tested, messed with, spit on, and scorched. The kind that's prevailed. I've struggled with my own number of demons, both internal and external, and maybe I just needed to stop doubting my own experience with faith in order to openly admit that I pray.
Religion produces people who are judgmental- of themselves and others. Spirituality produces an open heart, and open mind, and a loving soul. There is a peace and patience that comes from a deep spiritual relationship with God. I strive every day to see this world as a beautiful world, and to be open to God's presence in it. It's what's seen me through trials. It's what's strengthened my faith, both in myself and in God.
So even now, when I'm down on myself, or when I'm scraped to the bare metal and I'm struggling, I think about trying to see the world as a beautiful place, a place I should be gratefu to be, despite the odds. Praying helps me to do that.
Throughout my life I've wafted in and out of hell, sometimes for short vacations, sometimes for day trips, and sometimes for extended stays I thought would NEVER end. And I know I will have more trials. When I do, I will pray my way through those as well. Without shame. Without embarrassment. And with an open heart.
So whomever you pray to- Buddha, nature, God, or other, just make sure you work to cultivate the peace and patience and spirituality within yourself....with an open heart. :)
