Spiritual applications in an empirical universe

[Traveler]

Some of the most important spiritual lessons come from our experience in a physical universe.  As some of you know – I am an avid cyclist.   For over 30 years of my life I commuted 20 to 25 miles one way to work by bicycle.  On weekends I often competed in amateur events.  I was no star – especially on long inclines or into the wind.  The best I ever did was a bronze podium for a 50 mile time trial open event.   One place I could hold my own was on long endurance rides and I can still keep up with semi pros on the flat runs.  But at this point of my life (70 years old) a century (100 miles) leaves me exhausted and useless for the rest of the day –

My wife asks – why do you have to push yourself?  I still do training runs most every day.  The truth is – I like eating bread (carbs) and not being overweight – plus I like the grinding speed of cycling.  But what does all this have to do with spiritual applications?  For one – it has taught me a lot about endurance and the doctrine of “enduring to the end”.  The ancient Apostle Paul suggests that we should run (endure) to win or at least run (endure) with the intent to finish well.

First lesson of enduring to the end – Daily Training:  The worse mistake ever is to attempt a long endurance ride having not trained.  If one does not train – they will not finish.  Training is what you do every day to prepare for endurance to finish a long ride.

   When we cycle there are 3 basic elements of training: 1. Eat right – take in proper nourishment.   2. Get adequate rest.  This does not mean that you just sleep so many hours but that you schedule consistently your sleep time.   Have a daily workout plan – Daily does not mean, do the same thing every day – but each day you target your various training needs – working on specific things to improve.  In my younger years I did what we in cycling call, cadence training.  I have adopted a more modern approach called heart rate training.

If you are going to ride in heat – then you train in heat.  If you have a weakness you work on it to make that weakness strong.  It is interesting that G-d says he will train us to make our weakness our strength.   I do not believe G-d makes us strong with magic and because we just happen to be sitting somewhere. Strength cannot happen if you are not training and following instructions to become better.  This brings up another point - you also need to seek out advice about your training – every good competitor has a coach (mentor). 

Second lesson of enduring to the end – Use the best equipment:  Don’t just ride anything in a race – get the best equipment – not the best you can – the best there is. The only way this can happen is if you are always on the lookout for something better.  You cannot keep up with inferior equipment – even if it is just slightly inferior.  I have a great friend that is always saying – there are no bad days, no bad weather, no bad luck – just bad preparation and bad equipment.  I like to think of belonging to the LDS Church as owning the best equipment.  But it is not enough to just have the best – you have to maintain it at its top peak performance level.  And you have to know your equipment inside and out – it is like an appendage of yourself – you take ownership of it.

The point is – enduring to the end is not just a hanging around till it is over – it is doing you best.  Your best to be ready and your best throughout the entire ride or journey – and you do not quit because that is not what you trained to do.  How you as a reader apply this parable and find spiritual counterparts of enduring to the end – it is up to you but if you are in a race – you ought to at least enjoy it – and I promise you and exhort you – you will not enjoy it if you are not trained and prepared to do your best.

The Traveler

[Anddenex]

2 hours ago, Traveler said:

If you are going to ride in heat – then you train in heat.  If you have a weakness you work on it to make that weakness strong.  It is interesting that G-d says he will train us to make our weakness our strength.   I do not believe G-d makes us strong with magic and because we just happen to be sitting somewhere. Strength cannot happen if you are not training and following instructions to become better.  This brings up another point - you also need to seek out advice about your training – every good competitor has a coach (mentor). 

This is one concept, one truth, that more people need to understand. Before my mission I suffered with anxiety, such that when experiencing new experiences (or in social settings) my face would turn red, my face would begin to sweat (beads would begin to form on my face), and I would be out of breath and couldn't speak at times. I worked on my mission to overcome, and when I first got home from my mission I would wear three layers of clothing so that when I hugged a girl I was interested in she wouldn't feel my the soaked sweat from my armpits (as it would soak the first two layers). After four long years, inspiration from time-to-time from the Lord, I was finally able to conquer my anxiety -- I found the source (via inspiration) and was able to overcome. I still have one aspect of anxiety I haven't yet discovered its source. Once I do, I will overcome that also through the Atonement. It took work, daily work though, to overcome what I would experience with anxiety in social situations.

[tesuji]

I like your thread title, and your example of how a physical body helps our spirits learn.

Too often I would rather stay indoors and read, and ignore the "real" world. 

Jim Gaffigan says it well, when he says he's "indoorsy"