Hello everyone!
One insight that has become crystal clear to me (as I am sure it already is to many of you) is that somehow, exercise keeps my mind clear and my spirit focused. A sound healthy body is one that houses a sound and clear mind and a focused spirit. Even on bad days, when I have near zero motivation and don't want to work out, I force myself to work out and find out I actually feel better for doing so (kind of like on those days I don't want to go to Church/prayer but when I do, I feel better for it). In the few weeks since I have taken up the iron, I am finding that my mind is more focused, my studies are better, my spirit is strong and, in short, I FEEL A HECK OF A LOT BETTER. I consider the iron game and exercise in general to be a gift - and I pray that I can use this gift to not only better myself, but to help myself better others around me in my ministry.
Blessings to you all,
The Chaplain
P.S. - I forgot to post this but last week, we celebrated the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Our morning worship on that particular Thursday morning was long, especially considering there were approximately 300 prostrations (get down on your knees, touch your head to the floor [and flatten your body if you are hardcore or monastic], get back up to a standing position) in rapid succession (except for the part where there is the reading for St. Mary of Egypt). It was a morning worship that was a workout!! (Imagine a chapel full of chanting seminarians/people who are doing what appears to be modified burpees or grass drills . . . too bad we did not have weights during Matins . . .)
