The Journey Home

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 1 Peter 2:18-20

One of these days, I’m going to forget about the pain. Some day in the future, I may even laugh about it….but not today….definitely not today.

On Saturday morning, with much trepidation, I utilized my “free” personal training session at our local gym. My trainer was a likeable young man in his early 20’s who behaved as if my appointment with him was something akin to a one-on-one with Lady Gaga—I felt so special! Trainer said we would have two sessions today—the first an assessment of my current physical health with the second being a training session to meet the wish list of healthy goals indicated on my intake form.

Imbued by Trainer’s enthusiasm, I followed him to a treadmill. “Now, Gwen” he chirped, “we are going to do a 12 minute test. I want you to warm up and after two minutes, I’m going to time you to see how fast and how far you can go.” Starting the treadmill at 2 miles per hour, my sleepy muscles began to wake up. After two minutes, Trainer proclaimed, “I’m going to time you now” and yanked my speed to 2.7 MPH. Whoa, I thought, grabbing onto the handrails, “Okay, I can do this!” I focused on my breathing and walking, confident those 12 minutes were going to fly by. I even became so self-assured that I pushed the MPH to 3.0……until the sides of my calves began to scream in pain.

Trainer checked on me. “How are you doing?” “Not bad, except for the pain in my calves.” I moaned. “Good job!” he responded cheerfully! “Yeah, right!” I thought, as he bounced away. The next 10 minutes were truly miserable, but my adventure was just starting!

In the workout room, Trainer first request I do a regular push-up and then (also on the floor) to stretch to touch my toes. Stretching into the oblivion between my knees and ankles, I was left wishing I could fold my tummy fat out of the way! Back in his cubby, I was advised that my walking was in the poor range, my strength was in the poor range and my flexibility was fair. Ah, I thought, there was the silver-lining I was looking for! Trainer escorted me back to the workout room and stacked approximately 15 blocks together directing me to do squats over the blocks (to support me if I fell, I suppose). Watching this achievement, Trainer took first three, and then another two blocks from my perch. I obediently performed my required 10 squats.

On to the push-ups! Trainer allows me to do girl pushups from the knees. Ten sorry excuses for a push-up later, the real horror starts. Trainer asks me to do lunges. Oh, my word! Friends, I’m now fully convinced that should I not make it to heaven, hell consists of hours upon hours of lunges. But our fun did not stop there! Lunges were followed by arm lifts and chest presses; and the rotation of the five exercises was repeated three more times. By the second rotation, I was sweating like a chain-gang worker in the July sun. By the end of the third rotation, my contorted face would have scared off small children and probably even cowered my own dogs into the corner in abject terror!

Trainer kept asking if I was okay; I can’t imagine why! I often walk about with my face beet-red and gasping like a marathon runner. At the end of the four rotations, Trainer had me lie down on a mat on the floor. “Praise Jesus, we are done!” I thought. Trainer then instructed me to do abdominal curls…..and after those abdominal curls a dead-leg lift with both legs off the floor. At the end of our session, I tell trainer that I will never be as unhealthy/unfit as I am today. There is nowhere to go but up, right? Right?

As I hobbled out of the gym, my muscles spazzing in all directions, I felt a sense of accomplishment, but the pain was already setting in. Commenting on this, my wise husband warned, “It’s going to be worse in the morning.” Really? Really! Thank you for that bright spot in my day! He was not kidding. Sunday morning, I waddled into worship service gratefully aided and abetted by an 800 milligram Motrin (thank you, Lord for drugs!), but as the day wore on, the Motrin was no match for my aching muscles. When you reach the point that you want to cry as you realize how close to the ground your toilet is, sister, you’ve got it bad! Hubby’s comment that tomorrow will be the worst—and then it gets better—gave me no comfort at all.

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. Revelation 16:10-12

Beloved, I’m repenting and repenting hard from past actions today. I’m repenting of bites eaten in stress, anger, frustration, boredom or just because I wanted to. I’m repenting of evenings spent on the couch when I could have been walking my dogs. I’m repenting of the lunch hour that could have sneaked in 15 to 30 minutes of SOMETHING besides setting on my behind like I do the other eight hours of my work day, but all this repenting is not going to make the journey back to good health easier.

We talk much about the joy displayed when the father sees his prodigal son from afar. (Luke 15) We witness the love shown, the ring and sandals presented and the feast prepared, but we don’t talk about the son’s journey back…..and that journey back was no picnic. The journey was long, slow and painful. Remember, he had spent all his money (Luke 15:14); there was a severe famine in the country (v.14) and no one gave him anything to eat (v.15) and he was barefoot. (v.22)

No money also meant no transportation (Are you going to give a ride to a hitchhiker who smells like a pigsty?) and no way to pay for over-night lodging on your way. There was nothing to recommend him; if he was known, it was as the rebellious, disrespectful, greedy son of a good man which according to Hebrew law made him a candidate for stoning (Deut. 21:18-21 ) There was nothing to make the way back any easier, apart from the hopeful thought of a forgiving father waiting at the end of the journey.

Sweet friends, the journey back is usually hard. I daresay the prodigal’s days were fraught with hunger, fatigue and doubts. His nights in the open were filled with fear, for who was to know if something even more dire overcame him? Still he pressed on and at the end of his journey, the welcome, the forgiveness and the love was offered freely knowing that his heart had changed…..just like God’s forgiveness is given to us when our hearts change.

When this journey is over, I expect to weigh substantially less than I do now. When this journey is over, I expect to easily walk several miles with ease. When this journey is over, I pray to have established eating and lifestyle changes that constantly remind me what turning my back on God’s protection and grace in favor or my own wants looks and feels like—a physical fullness resulting in a spiritual famine. It’s going to be a long journey back, but I know that unlike the prodigal, the minute I turned in obedience and repentance, my Father was right there cheering me on.

Careful Considerations: What does the road back look like to you? Discuss. Isn’t the welcome home from your Father worth the arduous trip?

Heavenly Father, Your Word assures me that You are filled with compassion and love for Your children; that You work all things for good for those who love You and that You are waiting to welcome Your repentant children home. Thank you, Lord for mercy, patience and Your amazing ability to not only to forgive, but to forget our transgressions. Please walk closely to and strengthen those who was journeying back to a place of spiritual and physical health and home to You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Love, Hugs and Prayers,

Gwenda

Luke 15:14-19After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.