One of the reasons I don't like to go to the gym and workout is because parts of me are exposed that I think should remain hidden. You know what I mean. Next to me on the treadmill is someone in a cute workout tank and shorts running at full speed. On the other side is muscle man pumping iron and there I am in my painting shorts and mismatched top left over from the last VBS showing the world my lack of muscles, exposing white skin that hasn't seen enough sun and announcing to the world that I am not a serious exerciser.
That kind of exposure that lends itself to comparison with or by others frightens me. How many of you have had the dream, no - nightmare, of preaching naked? Often times we feel overexposed and open to criticism. So we protect ourselves or keep ourselves from fully exercising our muscles in front of an audience. And we know I'm not talking about clothing here. Although some would argue that wearing a robe is a way we hide out, but I'm not going there today.
On a recent retreat we were asked to look at how we guard our internal selves, our backstage persona, from our external or on stage self. It generated a great deal of discussion as we struggled with how to exercise those internal selves, expose them to the light and deal with the scrutiny it brings. If we constantly hide that part of us, how does it grow, develop and be transformed into strength and not just atrophy? How do we differentiate between what is truly private and not for any eyes but God's and what will bring us to a new level of authenticity? Who is in our lives who will help us discern and dispense what needs to be shared? How does what we keep from our on stage presence hinder our ability to use our gifts, serve God and be a transformational agent in the church?
What is exposed when you work out?
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