I have never been flexible – not in a ballet way, or a cheer leading way, or a gymnastics way. In fact, as a 5 year-old ballet dancer my parents basically pulled me out because being cute in a tutu wasn’t making up for my complete lack of flexibility and gracefulness. As a 5th grader a few of the “cool girls” made me their little project and decided to help me make the cheer squad. After realizing that they would probably never teach me how to properly do a cartwheel they decided to simply help me tame my crazy head of curls. Even just a few years ago I visited a chiropractor who, after realizing my inability to reach my toes, pulled and prodded in ways that were not always comfortable. I took home a list of stretches that promised to turn me into one of those circus ladies who can fit in a toy glass box. Then in my twenties I decided to conquer this issue and embraced yoga. I got a yoga mat, an organic-material bag to carry it in, and googled “yoga for increased flexibility.” I’m sure that I probably looked far more ridiculous that I felt, but this yoga thing was pretty relaxing. I wasn’t overexerting myself. It actually eased some of my anxiety levels. All-in-all yoga was a pretty comfortable, quiet, cleansing experience – and I think I may be a hair more flexible (literally, like I can stretch my fingers past one more prickly leg hair).
Being stretched in body and in spirit have lots of similarities. They both allow you to reach higher, go deeper, and be altogether healthier. They both take things that God has given you at a fundamental level and develop them further. They both involve discipline, practice, and growth. They both include exercises that are sometimes like the chiropractor or rehab specialist, pulling and prodding and icing and aching. They both include practices that can be rejuvenating and relaxing, like yoga.
Today I am wishing that the stretching God is taking me through spiritually felt more like yoga. It does not. To be honest I feel more like the kid in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who gets taken to the stretching room because they shrunk him to fit in the TV. I am being stretched as I learn to trust for finances. I am being stretched as I leave a job and church that I love. I am being stretched as I prepare to leave my family and friends for almost a year. I am being stretched as I begin to open up to a wonderful, but entirely new community of people in my sQuad. I wish that it felt more like yoga, but I know that the process and the stretching and even the discomfort are growing me to look more like Christ. I may never accomplish fitting myself into a tiny glass box, but I will continue to be molded and stretched by the Father.
