I went for a jog the other day.

I realize that the full impact of that sentence is probably lost on you, so I’ll try to give you some context.

I have a friend named Joel. I told Joel a little while back that we should get together to chat and catch up. He responded by inviting me to go on a short hike with him. We ended up hiking EIGHT MILES, up MOUNTAINS. And he didn’t pack ANY snacks.

Two weeks later, our family was having dinner over at Joel’s house and he informed me that he was training to run in a marathon. When I asked him why he was abusing his body until it could run 26 miles to nowhere with a bunch of strangers, he responded, “It just seems like a fun thing to be able to do.”

Joel is a lunatic.

He is, genuinely, a straight-up crazy person.

I am NOT Joel. In fact, I’m almost the opposite of Joel in this regard. I’m pretty sure if I had a spirit-animal, it would probably be something akin to a manatee: pale, slow, heavy-set, whiskers…it’s a pretty solid match.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not TOTALLY sedentary, but if exercise is in my life it is there out of necessity, not as a “hobby.” For instance, I have put considerable effort this year into cutting up trees with a chainsaw, lifting and moving logs, and then splitting those logs with a maul and stacking the pieces of firewood in our woodshed.

I engage with that exercise because my wife, who grew up in the tropics, has made it very clear to me that if our house is not sufficiently warm through the upcoming snowy months, then my domestic life will be “less than tranquil.”

Splitting wood prevents civil unrest; therefore, I am sufficiently motivated to embrace it.

So, you may be wondering to yourself, “If Joel is off-his-rocker for training to run a marathon, and Seth-the-sea-cow doesn’t engage in ludicrous aerobic frivolities, then why did Seth go for a run this morning?”

That’s a valid question, and it has a two-part answer:

1. Saying that I “ran” this morning is probably stretching the semantic range of that word to its absolute limits, as I only covered around 2 miles in 20 minutes. What I am referring to as a “run” here, others might simply call a “warm-up,” so it is not an apples-to-apples comparison with the insanity of Joel’s exploits.

2. In the realm of healthy living (a cut-throat, opinionated space, to be sure) there are at last a couple of universally agreed upon facts: sufficient sleep, good hydration, and regular exercise are absolutely critical for one’s body to be “living its best life.” Ergo, a light jog easily falls into the “necessary” column of activities.

Though I have long believed that a little bit of daily aerobic exercise is essential to my overall health, the dilapidated state of my constitution had heretofore relegated such convictions to the realm of “fanciful pipe dreams.” As I was continually exhausted by simply doing NOTHING (due to my chronic fatigue), the idea of adding something strenuous to my daily routine was laughable (in a sad, unfunny sort of way).

Since I have been taking my Plexus supplements, however, an amazing transformation has been taking place in my body.1 Not only am I no longer waking up exhausted, I actually have a SURPLUS of energy! I’m now legitimately EXCITED to start my day each morning!

With my gut health improving, the thought of getting my blubbery self to add a bit of cardio into the day is not such an inconceivable notion. In fact, sometimes I even WANT to exert some energy now! Sure, it’s still a bit of a chore to trot around outside huffing and puffing, having my thigh fat chaff against itself, but it’s DOABLE. And when something is both necessary AND attainable, that’s something I can work with.

So, in summary:
• Plexus is working wonders for me in opening the door to health and wellness.
• I probably need to organize an intervention for Joel pretty soon here before he goes “full Forest Gump.”

Don’t Be A Cow

Don’t Be A Cow

As a general rule, I think we tend to take things for granted. We go through each day, utilizing incredibly advanced technologies, interacting with amazingly unique people, and experiencing wondrously special events, and we do it in a ho-hum sort of way, like a cow...

read more
Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails…

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails…

Often, I write about specific incidents that I’ve experienced in our overseas “adventure.” Sometimes, I write about broader, more topical subjects. But, mostly, I just whine about petty personal inconveniences as though they are on equal standing with the Kennedy...

read more
Cows + Coffee = Churches

Cows + Coffee = Churches

Here’s the thing about sending missionaries to Unreached People Groups and supporting them: It’s really difficult and expensive. But here’s the other thing: It’s totally necessary. But here’s the OTHER other thing: We’re living like the inconvenience of the first...

read more