We were told at training camp that the race would change a lot of things in our life and that we would experience things that we never have before. One of the things mentioned was weight gain; something I never thought would become a part of my life. While I may look like someone who works to keep my weight in check back home, I’ll let you in on a little secret (one that most people hear and begin to hate me for): I don’t exercise on a daily (or most often weekly) basis and if I do, it is because I enjoy it, one of my favorite meals is the fourth one (you know, the one you go out at 9 or 10 P.M. to the nearest Culvers or other fast food joint of choice and get a full meal after you have already eaten dinner a few hours ago), and I eat chips by the bag (no, not the small personal sized ones) and ice cream by the gallon. Before the race, I would often step on the scale at work and, on rare occasion, have the numbers read 100 (in which I would pump my fists and shout “Yeah! Triple digits!”, to a laughing room of donors).
On the race, I have eaten more vegetables than my four years of college combined, exercised at least once a week (if not once a day), and noticeably gained weight for the first time in my life. My stomach no longer lays flat, my butt has grown substantially, the muscle tone in my arms and legs has decreased, and I feel more unhealthy than ever before.
And yet, I look in the mirror and see beauty. Yes, there are parts of my body that look different and, if nothing else, intrigue me, but if I fix my attention on those things, I miss out on what God intends for me to see.
I fail to see Jesus.
Genesis 1: 27 says, “So God created man in His own image”. In His image. In the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’s image. Not in Vogue’s magazine image. Not in the world’s view of what our image should be. In His image! We stand in the center of the Trinity and are used as a mirror. Our face, whether it is blemish free or not, reflects back God’s face. Our stomach, whether a solid six pack or not, reflects back God’s stomach (that one was kind of weird to write, but you get the point!). Those places where we see imperfections, God sees Himself. So, let’s not miss the point. Let’s not miss the opportunities to see Jesus in our reflections, because He is there, and He desires to be seen!
