Symphony of Iron

           Music has the innate ability to create emotional reactions within the human soul and heart. The beauty of a symphony, the adrenaline rush of a rock song, the contemplative prism of Gregorian Chant, can awaken feelings unlike much else. Our Creator has blessed us with the natural appreciation of such beauty and the ability to create music seems most curiously part of who we are. During the Liturgy of the Mass music is meant to bring us closer to God and contemplating His sacred mysteries. Art and architecture are also excellent means of which humankind 'sub-creates' (borrowing from J.R.R. Tolkien) a vision of God Himself through human means. We see the ever-famous ceilings of the Sistine Chapel, Regensburg Cathedral in Germany or statues like Michelangelo's David and know, to our very core, that this piece or that pillar leads to the transcendent.

           While the discussion of which type of music, art and architecture better draws our soul to the Divine will be an everlasting conversation until death do us part, what is rarely spoken of is what else in this world draws us towards the Divine in such a way. What other acts of 'sub-creation' can we take part in to order ourselves and those we come in contact with to appreciate the good, true and beautiful? Though many might scoff at such a lofty idea the answer for the 'New Asceticist' would quite obviously be THE IRON. Being as we are literally temples of the Holy Spirit, we embody all of the good and beautiful one finds within music, art and architecture and The Iron is the place in which we chip off our defects, correct and tighten any loose chords, and build an intrument worthy of Christ Himself. The Iron and the work it entails exudes motion for the sake of betterment and growth.

           Just as a violinist tunes his violin for the optimum sound quality, we musclemen strive to tune our bodies for the mission of Christ. The divine quality held within the arts, i.e. grace, longing, and beauty are magnified in the gym for those Ironheads who appreciate dedication to physical willpower. The angelic tones of metal on metal and the occasional grunts from exertion remind the participants that this is a place of hard work and manliness, two virtues of God Himself. Our eyes gleam of longing and hope, longing to succeed and to please Christ in our lifting and hope that we will one day fulfill our own mission we are preparing our bodies for. The architectural design of our human bodies allows for possible improvement, could this be a desire from our Creator? To improve for the sake of God Himself? The weight room is full of possibilities. When training for a higher purpose and a mission those possibilities are fully realized. Just as Muhammad Ali used to 'sing that sweet chin music' in the ring, we play a symphony for our Lord when we train to serve Him.