[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Monday, August 4, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and good day to you all.  I hope that this finds you well, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

John Tissot who writes from California contributed an article several years ago entitled "Pool Exercises," rendered as follows:

I was standing in water up to my chest when the thought struck me:  this pool has saved my life.

As a Spanish teacher with more than 35 years experience in front of high school chalkboards, I thought my legs were pillars of steel.  I always stood when I was teaching _hablo, _hablas, _habla.  On weekends I often walked the mile from my house to the post office.  If I was in a hurry, I used my bicycle.  I expected to spend my retirement years running up and down the beach in Carpinteria.

Unexpectedly, the muscles above and below my knees surrendered.  The doctors didn't know why.  My wife bought me a cane.  That got me by.  I could go into the supermarket and buy potatoes if I wanted.  Vacations were another story.  Why go to Carmel if I couldn't walk around and see the galleries?

It got to the point that I couldn't do exercises of any kind, except those lying on my bed.  My wife and daughter came to the rescue, suggesting a class in water aerobics in the downtown pool.  Now my choice was between doing nothing until my whole body became so weak I couldn't move or trying the water aerobics class and possibly regaining some of my lost strength.  I overcame my reluctance, and now I go to the pool twice a week.

Exercising in a group setting has been great.  Having other people to talk to and exercise with lends an atmosphere of camaraderie.  I especially appreciate having a trained instructor that can push me to my limit and is watching out for my safety.  In the beginning--as weak as I was--this was especially important.  If I was unable to get out of the pool, an instructor or one of my classmates could help me out.  And the music the instructors play helps keep our energy level up.

Now my body is stronger and I have made exercise a structured part of my retirement.  I have been searching out more information on the subject and I've found that most people believe that exercising is a means to lose weight; however, I've discovered more benefits.

According to "Men's Health," researchers in Denmark found that if you exercise two hours a week, you will be less stressed.  Furthermore, British researchers tell us that when we exercise outdoors, we can reduce our depression 71%.  By chance our pool in Carpinteria is open to the sky and when we head back to the showers after our aerobics class, we're brimming with good spirits.  Based on my experience, I'd have to say the researchers are right.

Finally, "Bottom Line's" health newsletter states that exercising with music helps organize thoughts and heightens alertness.  And all along I thought our teacher brought a CD player along to keep our rhythm when we do the Cossack kick.

And there you have John's article for today which, although not a Christian article in the strictest sense of the word, I hope was a blessing to you.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought article for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul