Iron Philosophy: Endurance

ENDURANCE

          Near the end of St. Paul's extraordinary life he gave these words: 'I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.' (2 Tim. 4:7) The message of which deigns the virtue of endurance. Earlier in the same chapter St. Paul also states, 'be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient' (2 Tim. 4:2) which resonates quite well with the world of bodybuilding and strength gaining. In a world where 90% of those wishing to grow healthier quit their routine or diet within 2 weeks, endurance of body will surely educate us on the endurance of the soul.

          The battle to be a faithful Catholic is a daily renunciation of our own wills in order to better understand and unite them with the omniscient will of God, our Father. Due to original sin and the very real and human aspect of concupiscence, our natural tendency to break the laws of God, our wills are too weak to withstand the temptations of the world without the unending grace of a loving Creator. For those struggling with particular sins of greed, anger, sloth, lust or just about any other thoroughly ingrained aspect of our selfish, secularist culture, a solid swap across the back of the head from the Iron might be just what the doctor ordered. The Iron can act as a tangible creed, vowing to never surrender whatever life might throw at you. On the battlefield of sweat there is no middle ground, either you endure and keep moving or you lose.

        Holy endurance demands that the soul continue the fight, or as St. Paul selected the race, with a smile and resolve worthy of heaven. The continual struggle to keep your conscience, and more importantly your soul, gleaming with grace will not accept cowardice. 'For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.'  (2 Tim. 1:7) In the weight room that same spirit of power and love is what keeps us moving. Some days we might wake up and think, 'Why continue? Isn't this all for naught?' but it is the redeeming value of endurance which ignites the fire within us to keep hitting the weights, and to eat tuna and broccoli yet again. That fire, unquenchable in it's journey, is the Most Holy Spirit reminding you that, 'You are a created, loved human being and YOUR LIFE HAS VALUE! Keep moving, keep striving for perfection to honor your Creator!'

      In times of peril it is endurance which wins each battle and ultimately leads to a victorious war. In the weight room it is endurance to complete each set, rep after rep, day after day, which leads to better health, a more ascetic spirituality and the wherewithal to face the challenges in life like a soldier.