Having raised two sons, I can remember how you lose them at 15, but get
them back at 20. And how for those six years you are the stupidest person on
earth. But we forget that we once travelled through that twilight zone of
knowing it all ourselves, and it doesn’t always end at 20, sometimes 21 or
more. Growing up in New Jersey, it was popular to hear “it’s not the heat, it’s
the humidity...” referring to the perpetual full glands of sweat soaking you.
How you couldn’t get dry after a shower in the summer, and the fun of sticking
to the precious hide of nauga on car seats. Fun on any level-NOT! That all was
to change when I swapped New’s, Jersey for Mexico, and I found out that I didn’t
know it all, in fact a continuing trend today, the more I learn, the more I find
I don’t know. I was an athlete, and played all sports, and worked out. Long
before gyms and spas were just places for the beautiful people to pick up on
each other. And the apartment I moved into had an indoor basketball court I
used. So I played a lot, but couldn’t break a sweat. Just looking at the ball
used to make me break out in moisture, now I was hardly getting wet. And I was
tiring easy, I just didn’t get it. Was I old and finished at 21? And it
bothered me until someone explained altitude to me. I was living at 5500’, and
the air was thinner, explained the lack of power on my R90S also, I thought it
was getting old. But then I learned about the lack of humidity, the moisture in
the air that permeates Jersey, but doesn’t in desert climates like New Mexico.
How I was used to 80+%, now it was 30% or lower, and would be even lower in the
summer. What a relief to know I was normal, and to find some truth in the fact
it wasn’t the heat, it was the humidity. As for the altitude....it was a brand
new type of high for me.
I had nicknamed our friend Tom Yo-Yo, because he was. I had
known another friend back east we called Oy-Oy, Yo-Yo spelled backwards, so the
nick name was still unused in our community. He lived in a retirement
community, although at the ripe age of 30 he didn’t qualify. A good example of
money talks, his family was loaded, and this was one of the nicest places to
live in Albuquerque. And it too had a gym, a great indoor pool, and we used it
often. It also had a sauna and hot tub, such are the spoils of the rich. And I
was over the not sweating and being out of breath aspect of my learning curve,
so was hitting the weights. Just some light repititions, but soon I found I was
using more weight than ever before. At first I wondered if there was another
new law that when combined with low humidity and high altitude made weights seem
lighter, adding some high ignorance for good measure, but none existed I could
find. So one night while the three of us were working out, I commented how I
was using more weight, but not getting more results. Yo-Yo with his know it all
smile, sadly he did know a lot, and anyone who knows more than me is smarter
than me, laughed at first, just to put me at ill ease. Then he explained that
this was a senior center, and older men, old men in their fifties and sixties
used it, and that the weights were mismarked to cushion their bruised egos. 20
pound weights were really 15, 50 pound bars were really 35, and even the 5 pound
dumb bells were only 2 1/2 pounds. And suddenly I felt worse off than before my
humidity lesson, I was working harder, using less weights, and getting less
results-actually the results were commensurate with the effort, and I was all
messed up. Yo-Yo could have his fake weights, and his sauna, I went riding. And
never looked back. In one move out west I had conquered altitude, humidity, and
mislabeled weights for the elderly and I was tired. Never before had exercise
demanded so much and delivered so little. Only to be reminded almost 40 years
later it wasn’t a humidity, altitude ignorance, or even weight related. Andrew
and I stopped to eat in Winslow, no we didn’t stand on the corner, and we
weren’t a fine sight to see. Two young local Mexican kids were talking, and one
asked what “La Fitness” was? He had seen the sign on a building. The other,
far more worldly answered, “it’s LA Fitness, as in Los Angeles stupid.” Oh the
joys of being young and knowing it all. The grand illusion of
youth...fortunately not wasted on the older. Proving what Ray and I agreed on,
“we may be getting older, but we aren’t getting old.” And so we both
ride.
Religion has taught me that many things are not what they appear
to be, religion tops on the list. I don’t like being called a religious person,
I don’t like the connotation of some goody two shoes looking geek out of touch
with men, and really out of touch with God. The base word for religion means
bound, and today many are bound to religion. They get caught up in doctrinal and
denominational laws, some that aren’t even in the Bible. They get twisted up in
appearance, and wish to look good, or religious. When deep inside the evil
lurks, and is just waiting for the chance to show itself. Such were the
Pharisees, who wore special robes, made loud prayers in public, and would ring a
bell to acknowledge their offering. Not a giving, but a requirement of a tithe,
proving to all that since I gave more, I am better. Except in the eyes of God.
Who looks upon the heart. And many today still give the outward appearance top
billing, and are fooled or lulled into sin. We find priests who are a poor
substitute for Jesus intervening, when we can go to Him ourselves anytime. We
put a huge burden on people to attend church, instead of inviting them to be
blessed. Some thinking that their one hour a week fulfills all obligations to
God, and they are off the hook for another week. Some are commanded to give
10%, but you cannot take an offering, it is a free gift, to be given laughingly,
as Jesus instructed. And the Bible to be read instead of carried only on
Sundays, then put on the shelf until next week. Same time, same church. And so
many get lulled to sleep by religion, thinking they are religious, and then
along comes Jesus. Who came to free us from religion, laws, and the things that
bind. To be the only way, a shortcut to God, and available to all. Even
sinners. Wow, you let them in church? Maybe Jesus did hang out with a better
class of people after all.
Today many pray, read, attend church, and think they have it
made with God. They met all the requirements of the church they attend, but are
missing something, really someone. Where is Jesus in all this? Have you let
Him into your life, and can you call Him Lord? Or are you living under the
grand illusion that good works are all I need? So many are like the 15-20 year
olds, they know it all. But don’t know Jesus. Did you know that the youngest
person in Christ is still smarter than the most educated who doesn’t? That good
works are just that, good works. But it takes Jesus to make it to heaven? No
heat or humidity difference, no mislabeled weights. It takes the truth, and
since Jesus is the truth, without Him you don’t have the way. No truth, no way,
no life. Your life just like a yo-yo, up and down until you get bored and let
the string loose, and the yo-yo dangling. And put it away in search of another
toy....that’s religion. Not Jesus.
And His offer is free, no membership, and offers 24/7 service.
He is even open on Easter and Christmas. Is your religion? Find freedom today
in the spirit. Trust Jesus by getting to know Him. And watch as you find love,
joy, and peace that you didn’t know existed. No illusions, just the truth. How
refreshing.
And for those two guys at La Fitness, I pray they find Jesus
before they become Senor Citizens. Like Yo-Yo’s work out room, I can’t weight
for that. Don’t be an religious oy-oy, Jesus already has it all worked out.
Break the bounds of religion today-His name is Jesus, and He is still the only
way. He knows it all, and I know Him, and He knows me.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com