Spiritual Training Cycle: Connection (wk. 8/13)
Overcoming Malaise and finding Gratefulness
My wife convinced me to try CrossFit with her in 2020. As an antidote to our version of “Covid Malaise,” we started following a local CrossFit gym that was streaming workouts on YouTube. What we didn’t understand until we started attending in-person classes later that year? - How much older we were than the typical CrossFit athlete!
Now in our late 60s, we are the “parents” or even the “grandparents” for many of our friends at the gym. We’ve learned to modify some of the typical CrossFit exercises (muscle-ups have become kipping pull-ups and modified ring rows, etc.), but we’ve also progressed in our fitness levels so that we are often able to keep up with people forty years younger than we are. And along the way we’ve become incredibly grateful for this community of younger athletes who have encouraged us in our own “load/recovery/adaptation” work in the gym.
Fitness Load and Spiritual Gratitude
CrossFit athletes face "load" in every workout. My wife and I have learned to push through this load during long, tough workouts, and, as a result, we’ve learned the more we adapt to physical resistance, the stronger we become. In some respects, there is a spiritual analogy here: being grateful to God, even during hard times, acts as a "load" that strengthens our spirit. It’s easy to be thankful when everything is smooth, but true gratitude shines brightest during the struggles, leading us closer to joy.
The apostle Paul understood this well. In his letter to fellow Christians who were living in the city of Philippi two thousand years ago, he wrote about “pressing on,” not looking back, but pushing forward. Gratitude helps us endure hard times, transforming our perspective from burden to opportunity for growth. It’s the same as digging deep during a WOD; gratitude can be what fuels us to keep going when we’re tempted to quit.
St. Paul often used athletic metaphors to describe the Christian journey. Just as athletes fuel their bodies with the right nutrients for upcoming sessions of “load,” gratitude fuels our spirit. It’s the recovery phase that allows us to adapt and grow, transforming life’s challenges into opportunities for deeper joy and maturity.
Practical Steps to Cultivate Gratitude
Track Your Wins: Keep a gratitude journal and write three things daily you’re thankful for. This builds momentum and shifts your perspective.
Embrace the Struggle: Recognize challenges as part of your growth. Thank God for them, knowing they’ll make you stronger.
Press Forward: When life gets hard, recall Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Let gratitude fuel your perseverance.
Questions for Reflection:
How can you practice gratitude more intentionally, both in your workouts and spiritual life?
What current challenges could become opportunities if viewed through a lens of gratitude?
Who around you needs a word of encouragement or gratitude this week?
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