I was working out at the gym, when I noticed a young Hispanic man flexing his arms and admiring himself unabashedly in the mirror. I thought, “Golly – what’s the point?”
I was feeling smugly superior, but in a sudden flash of intuitive insight, I realized how God was seeing that man. He was enjoying being that man admiring Himself in the mirror! It was simply one of the countless ways He was expressing Himself. God was eternally faithful to that man, ever his loyal friend, always ready to help him on his journey.
A lightness entered my heart, and I smiled happily, because I couldn’t help but enjoy it, too.
I’m often in a hurry to escape the gym with its abominable music and thousand hungry eyes, but today was different. I felt not above it, but happy to be enjoying God’s play.
I’ve learned to find joy when I run, but I’ve seldom been able to find it at the gym. I’ve always believed that true spiritual practice is for running in nature, “out in the green,” on a single-track trail far from the uncivilized city. But today I received a glimpse of how God sees us. God treats everyone with complete respect and kindness. He doesn’t judge anyone. I was very surprised to see how lovable that young man was, in his soul-nature. Formerly, I’d have thought that he was being mildly ridiculous, but today I could see even my own vanity as gently humorous, something to be corrected rather than a cause for shame or discouragement.
