Exercise and St. Benedict

I have times of great productivity. I am reading, teaching, participating in meetings, writing, and generally doing well. Then there are the times of silence, and they are usually at the end of winter. I don’t know, maybe my mind reaches a saturation point of activity and then “locks up”, like my computer does. I just know that there are times of silence that come into my life. There will be times when I can’t read much. Developing lesson plans for teaching or writing sermons is hard. It is like trying to read when you have the flu and have taken night time cold medicine. Why bother…it is so frustrating.

I shared my frustration with the silence with a brother in the Lord. He asked if I had a regular exercise program. I said that I get plenty of exercise with the arrival of spring, summer and fall. My friend said that he has struggled with depression in the past and to keep it away, he is careful to maintain an exercise program.

I had a witness inside that he was right. My older brother once said the same thing a couple of years ago,but I didn't want to hear it then. I don’t like jogging. I don’t like going to a gym. I work plenty when I am hunting, or paddling, and actually doing something. Jogging is working up a sweat without going anywhere or getting anything done. Well, that is how I thought, anyway.

I am trying to follow my friend’s advice and get a cardiovascular work out (whether I like it or not.) I am beginning to see that jogging is working up a sweat because it is good for me. I may not have a tangible thing to show for the effort, but it does have benefits. It is supposed to increase my energy level, and help me sleep better. (I thought coffee did that in the morning, and no coffee after 6pm let me sleep.) :)

But what if the exercise wears me out to soon? Ever go to the auto parts store and ask for a thingy for a 1976 Plymouth, and the clerk looks from the computer at you and around the store, to see if Candid Camera was putting a joke on him. He looks back at you and his look changes to one of amazement, that into his life should walk a person and that might really expect that a parts store would have parts that go back 30+ years. Mustering up his kindest voice, and a look of pity, the parts clerk says slowly, just incase you are not only dumb but also hard of hearing, too, “Better go to the junk yard and see if they can help you…we don’t store parts that far back.”

Well, I only have so much cartilage, and when that wears out, it is gone! I am an older model than the 1976 Plymouth, and the parts store can’t replace things that wear out. Didn’t St. Benedict preach “everything in moderation”? So, having a moderate approach to exercise would be good, right?
So, if St. Benedict were to inquire, “How is no exercise in the winter being moderate?” how would I respond?
Okay, “busted.” My brother was right, and my friend was right, and so was St. Benedict.
I guess I will have to include exercise into my life and worry about the parts wearing out later. I sure a glad Spring bear hunting is coming soon. :)