At a powerlifting meet, the coach of my competitor introduced himself and then asked for my name. After I said, “My name is Alida,” he laughed and said, “I’ll probably make up a name for you by the end of the day because I’m terrible […]
Tag: spiritual life
Communion, Not Combat
These past few years, I’ve written a lot about my practice of prayer walking. And I’ve been asked if it’s like marching around a wall trying to bring it down. That made me wonder: What if the way we think about prayer has quietly shaped […]
Count The Cost
I’ve learned over the past 12 years in the gym that building muscle costs time, discipline, and sacrifice. Only the person doing the workout can decide if they will wholeheartedly put in the work. There are no shortcuts to the “new year new you” social […]
Pause, Pray, Prove
How quickly do you repost something you see on social media? For many of us, the impulse is almost automatic. This is the age of scroll, react, share. Scroll, react, share. Over and over. Just today, I saw a post that felt relevant, sounded credible, […]
Make Your Life a Prayer
I used to think that to make your life a prayer required grand gestures. You know, like hours of crying out to Him each day with a list of petitions, or shutting yourself away from the world in a quiet retreat. I’m not condemning those […]
Sustaining Grace for Our Aging Bodies
Each passing decade is a tribute to God’s sustaining grace for our aging bodies. Every wrinkle, every gray hair, every careful step is a declaration that God has carried us through days we once prayed to see. Even to your old age and gray hairs […]
He Already Knows
I remember when my grandmother cautioned me about university. She was afraid my faith would suffer. Faith is often seen as a confidence untouched by doubt. But God also gave us the ability to ask questions. We are told to become like little children. And […]
Appreciate the Outcome
Isn’t waiting supposed to get easier as we get older? Right now, I am leaning into God for strength. Striving to appreciate the outcome, no matter what happens. My left leg is sore and swollen. If I take more than 4000 steps in a day, […]
Decide For Ourselves
I spent two years focused on one primary goal: regaining my strength. An injured powerlifter is often conflicted. Do we decide for ourselves when we are ready to return to lifting, or do we follow the doctor’s advice? My personal choice after my shoulder surgery […]
Align Your Habits
I have a new training program with a few exercises I am not used to. At times, I feel uncoordinated and awkward. My habit is to video myself so I can see my form. When I have questions, I send a video to my coach […]