Cross-Training

Have you heard about the Cross-training program out there that sounds promising?

It's a whole-body practice, centered in balance, and complete with resistance-training.

The Trainer's methods have been around for about 2000 years, and there's a time-tested manual available.

It's intriguing, because it's free (will) to join, offers open enrollment, and assures complete transformation.

It's just that this particular Trainer may not have many "likes" or true followers.

This Cross-Trainer began long ago with just a rag-tag bunch of twelve.

Twelve initially, anyway.

One sold Him out.

Then, one denied being with Him, knowing Him or following Him at all -

but would later be one of His most fervent advocates.

A later follower actually put the Trainer's followers to death -

but later devoted his life to this Teacher, proclaiming that the only life worth living

was a life lived in Christ.

In this world of "likes" and "reviews," it is obvious:

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."

-G.K. Chesterton

The promises of Christ, the Cross-Trainer, are other-worldly.

His claims appear outrageous.

His methods seem questionable.

His practice guarantees discomfort.

His requirements are ongoing.

And this is for certain: one does not emerge as one's own guru.

Far from it.

One becomes Cross-fit only in acknowledging complete and utter dependence on the Trainer.

Cost to join?

One Heart, Soul, Mind and Body.

Membership?

One Lifetime.

Ready,

or not so much?

Right. It's a lot to take in. Yet...

"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance." -C.S. Lewis

And even more? The goal of Christianity does not stop at making people nice or decent...

but aims to turn people into saints(!)

-C.S. Lewis, Oxford professor and atheist-turned-follower-of-Christ in Mere Christianity.

To begin, this particular program has one acknowledgement:

that we are required to submit ourselves to something other than ourselves,

something that surpasses us. One Who surpasses. One Who is Perfect. - Jacques Phillippe

Phillippe, a member of the Community of the Beatitudes, lays out the path to spiritual growth and strength.

It's one which requires us to:

1) Insist on being honest with ourselves;

2) Take concrete steps to be truthful with God;

3) Engage in prayer, reflection and serious reading of scripture; and

4) Take part consistently in spiritual direction, retreats and other spiritual food.

Teach me the Way, O Lord...to walk in Thy Truth. Psalm 86:11

This Cross-Training slowly and surely takes over one's life.

"Day by day, hour by hour, we must be renewing the offering of ourselves, making sure it is not a matter of words and sentiments, but actuality. Everything we do, from morning to night, must be truthful, coming from our deepest centre." - Ruth Burrows, Carmelite nun in England

The true Cross-Training Followers have urgent words for us...words they have uttered until their final breaths:

"Do not use (this training) as an opportunity for yourself, but to serve one another!" Gal 5:13

"Walk in the Spirit!" -Gal. 5:16

"Bear one another's burdens!" Gal. 6:2

And a constant reminder: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Gal 6:9

Finally, we can consider the mirror to show us results.

The mirror image can tell us about being Cross-Fit.

The ultimate reflection-in-the-mirror test?

When our desires match God's Will.

Our Wants = His Will.

Maybe God's Will is for Wood.

For those who Would do His Will.

The carpenter's Son, the Perfect One, the Cross-Trainer Himself is forming us,

is building us,

is fortifying us to become a House.

Could it be that we are all made to be Cross-Beams?

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity