These days I’m working on my pastor and dad bod which is notoriously not much to look at. My physique now isn’t what it was back in my early twenties and that’s okay. But back when I was a Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist, I learned many lessons that are transferrable to the Christian life.

Many moons ago I was into dieting and supplements and lifting-weights. I still am today, although to a much lesser degree. I try to eat healthy most days of the week. I take fewer supplements. And I lift weights and run, say, three or four days a week (when we’re not living in a coronavirus age). I feel much better when I take care of my body.

These days, though, I’m working on my pastor and dad bod which is notoriously not much to look at. My physique now isn’t what it was back in my early twenties and that’s okay. But back when I was a Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist, I learned many lessons that are transferrable to the Christian life. One of those lessons is this: achieving a fitness goal and killing sin both happens through the exchange of pleasures.

I learned this lesson most prominently when I competed in a fitness competition at work. The first-place prize was $10,000. For four months I ate chicken and broccoli, exercised around six days a week, and got into the best physical shape of my life. I even worked with a top-notch fitness coach. The experience was brutal but rewarding. The winner was announced at the annual company banquet in December. As I arrived at the banquet center some people talked to me about the competition which only heightened the anticipation and nervousness that I was already feeling. Still, I was glad just to be done with the competition and was ready to eat as much unhealthy food as I could find at the banquet.

The first-place winner was announced . . . and I didn’t win. There was no prize for second place, or third or fourth and so on. It stung. I wanted to win. But I was sort of relieved that it was all over with and was ready to move on. I sat there with the best body I could muster and learned a lifelong lesson that will always be with me. And that lesson is about the exchange of pleasures.

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