In the middle of the night (more like early morning) I had to get up to attend to my restless son. As I stepped out of bed I thought my ankles were going to break off of my legs. It’s my own dumb fault they feel that way. I haven’t been good at stretching and keeping my muscles loose after running. I also haven’t been good at strength training because sometimes I have this mentality “I just ran so I got my work in for the day.” So I can see how sometimes simples steps feel more like walking on stubs. But could you imagine that? Could you imagine taking a step and then “snap!” one of your feet just snap right off? Well that’s what happens to youth ministers all the time.
We think because we work in a church, we are actually worshipping God, we think because we preach out of the bible that we are actually investing ourselves in God’s word. As a runner, I know that just because I run doesn’t mean that I’m in shape. In fact if I wanted to drink and smoke before a race I could and I could run it well; however, if I maintained that habit it wouldn’t matter how much I ran, I still wouldn’t be healthy. Diet, stretching and strength training are all essential habits of a healthy individual. Worship and studying scripture are a part of any individual (especially a youth ministers) spiritual health.