Faith Based Fitness

Was talking today with a friend about if they were going to Easter services today. His response we that he has "given up church for awhile, it's just not giving me what I want!". Thought his response was funny - and made me think about faith and fitness! Both are actually pretty similar.
I think we believe that if we go to church - amazing things will happen; and when they don't, we question the church, we question our faith and we question what is going on! After all, didn't we "sign up and sign on"!
Just like signing up at a gym! When I had my own training facility, would have folks all the time talk about how they signed up - but they were going to drop their membership because, "The gym never really helped them reach their goals!". I'd check their "visits" and find out that they signed up, paid their membership - BUT NEVER PAID THEIR DUES!!
What I mean is that they didn't do what was necessary to achieve physical fitness and improve performance; they didn't commit - to following a nutrition plan, to doing their stretching and flexibility program, follow a resistance training routine or do their cardiovascular workout on a regular basis...they thought the magic was signing an agreement! The signing is only the first step - the magic comes with the motion!!!
Just like our faith - just showing up on a Sunday doesn't make us holy or give us the spiritual fullfllment we are looking for. My grandpa use to day - "Just cause you sit in a chicken coop for an hour on a Sunday don't make you a chicken!" Just because we go "to" the gym doesn't mean we will have success. Both in the church and in the club, it matters WHAT WE DO when we are there, when we leave and during each moment that makes the magic.
With our spiriutal pursuit - it's prayer, reading, getting around the right people, making the right choices and even going to church to get lift your spirits and get around like minded people that can help when we hit the bumps along with way. With our physical track, it's reading, getting around the right people, making the right choices with our exercise and diet and even going to the gym to find those that can help us along with way and keep us on track!
Can we get fit - both physically and spiritually on our own!? Of course, people do it all the time. Does it take more commitment, dedication and motivation - it doesn't take MORE - but it takes consistant faith, focus and effort to get us where we want to get on our journey!
The road can be tough, the road can be long - success is never easy and it will never be easy! By having the faith that putting in the time, committment and energy needed to see the results of our pursuit is the key to finding the answers we are looking for.
If something isn't giving you what you are looking for - maybe you are looking at the wrong place and direction. Maybe we need to be looking into the mirror and looking back at ourselves to find that the best place to find what we are looking for is right inside of us! Look inside and you'll find success - for your faith and your fitness!!