My spiritual shape-up

BY ADAM SCHERR

IT SEEMS WE LIVE in a world of "thin," or "want to be thin." Of "in shape," or "trying to get (or stay) in shape."

Interestingly enough, when I looked up the word shape in the dictionary, there were two very different meanings. The first was "an assumed appearance." When we look in the "mirror, mirror on the wall," another way of expressing this first definition is really "mortal/material image." The second definition (the one I like) is "proper form; orderly arrangement." Or as I like to put it, "immortal image." The reflection of God. If I go by this spiritual model as my barometer of whether I'm fit or not, I'm really in good shape.

Through Christian Science, I'm learning that what we see in a mirror is actually a reflection of thought. If I cast my mental net to the right side, divine Love's side, the mirror is much nicer than if my thought lingers on the other side. God gives us dominion over every living thing, fish in the sea, fowl in the air, and, yes, even how we think about what we see in the mirror. In Science and Health Mary Baker Eddy writes, "We must look deep into realism instead of accepting only the outward sense of things" (p. 129).

Some time ago, I got a call from someone who wanted to talk about issues they were having at their gym. I listened to what they had to say, and then I casually shared with them that I went to the gym, too. I think I said that I loved to lift weights. After the call, something was bothering me. Why did it feel inauthentic for me to announce that I loved lifting weights?

Let me first say I think there is nothing wrong with sports, or weight lifting for that matter. Plenty of people do it for the friendly competition, camaraderie, to be active, or for legitimate training in order set and break athletic goals. It's invigorating to go for a bike ride to enjoy God's scenery and fresh air. And playing tennis, softball, or soccer with friends or family makes for a fun weekend. Those are all ways to express the divine Mind's activity.

But that wasn't exactly what I'd been doing. Some people can genuinely lift weights for the pure strength training. Not me. Several times a week, I was parked on a bench trying to sculpt a golden calf, sitting in front of a mirror. The only reason I would do it was to look better. This approach just didn't cut it anymore. It was conflicting with my spiritual progress.

Before these workouts, I would start the day right. I'd get up early and pray for myself, my family, my patients, church, and the world. I'd even pray to handle animal magnetism, or the sneaky suggestion that there was a power apart from pure Spirit.

Then at some point I'd stop this God-centric activity and walk 20 minutes through Brooklyn and go to the gym to focus on sculpting my body. Now not once in any of those early morning communions with my Father, God, did I sense that "go lift weights" was a divine impulse.

So what happened? I realized that I needed to address this serpent thought telling me, "You need to go there. You'll look so much better if you work on your muscles. Or better yet, maybe you'll help someone while you're there. Sure, why not!"

Can't you see it now? "Oh, me? I'm a Christian Science practitioner. I work with people, in knowing the truth about their relationship to God, that they are entirely spiritual and not material. Now pardon me while I do 20 more reps on my biceps." I realized that my motive didn't exactly coincide with my spiritual goals.

I needed to address this serpent thought telling me, "You'll look so much better if you work on your muscles." ... My motive didn't exactly coincide with my spiritual goals.

Years before, I'd learned my lesson when I gave too much power to food and exercise. I would eat very little, work out like a crazy person. (Ironically, I'd smoke a pack of cigarettes a day! Now I no longer smoke—have had that healing.) At the time, I thought I was in shape. I was living in France, and a friend from New York was visiting. This friend was very round. One day, we were sitting and talking, when I brazenly asked him, "Do you ever think about getting into shape?" Thank goodness this friend was very good-natured, as he looked at me and answered, "Round is a shape." Boy, did I learn never to comment on another's body.

I wasn't about to go back to that hyper-focus on body image. So what did I do? I made a decision. Weights at the gym? Nah. More time focused on Spirit? Absolutely.

So right now I'm not going to the gym. I do walk around the city more. I chase my kids around the playground—I like to say I "scoot." When I'm in the country, I love to hike. I think when it comes to exercise, I try to have the right motive and listen more carefully to spiritual sense. CSS

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