Four Praise Songs

 I have a dear friend.  She is 57 years old and has raised 4 kids.  She has been one of my dearest friends for approximately 14 years now and she has seen me through some of the darkest times in my life.  

Recently she told me she had realized a need to lose a few pounds and while I heard this report by phone it was a month or two later before I was able to see her in person. The next time I saw her she had not only lost weight, but she had toned up.  I could see the muscles in her arms, even when she wasn’t flexing.  I asked her what she had been doing for a work out.  She proudly announced “Four praise songs!” while she dragged out a Nordic Track she had gotten at a garage sale for $7.00. 

My friend was doing the Nordic Track daily while listening to four praise songs. I couldn’t believe the difference in how she looked and it hit me that this might be my answer as well. I HATE working out.  In high school and college, I was an athlete and played every sport my school had to offer: Intramural softball, basketball, volleyball, flag football, and for one glorious year I held my high school's record in the quarter mile.  Somehow when I was competing it wasn’t about exercise.  It was about...well, competition, and I happen to be a bit driven. 

After I graduated, though, chances to play were fewer and farther between and since I’ve always had a high metabolism I didn’t HAVE to exercise.  It didn’t really show and I maintained a thin physique.  Since hitting my mid 30's, for the first time in my life, I have had to consider starting an exercise routine or getting a new wardrobe.  The other thought that occurred to me was some recent research I had come across. The research demonstrated that exercise done with a negative attitude or thought process didn’t bring the benefits of exercise done that was enjoyable.  At the time I thought, “I’m screwed.” I had not found a workout that I could stand.

A few months after Mary’s disclosure I went to a personal growth seminar.  (More on that soon.) As a part of the seminar you are asked to pick two things that you will say “yes” to.  I decided to say yes to praising God in a physically active way 2-3 times per week.  To some degree I put this down out of desperation and not any stitch of me was looking forward to fulfilling this commitment.   On the last day of this seminar I was leaping around cheering for one of the other participants (not the norm for me) and I felt something in my ankle pop.  It didn’t hurt...not until later after I continued leaping around on it.  On some level I was relieved.  I could legitimately put off my physically active praising.

So here I am  today.  My first day back from a fantastic vacation with the love of my life.  My ankle is still tight but improving.   I decided this was the day.  I turned on the stereo and began to bounce on our woefully ignored mini trampoline.  Casting Crowns was first and I began to sing with them.

I was jumping up and down vigorously and would likely have harmonized nicely with a dying cow.   The craziest thing happened.  I lost myself.  I raised my hands.  The things I woke up worrying about in the middle of the night disappeared and my spirit felt like flying.  I had brief thoughts of what the neighbors would do if they saw me through my back windows and laughed as I realized I was happy to endure a little embarrassment in order to feel this way.   Praising left me with the joy.  It left me feeling indomitable.  Like a superhero.  There is nothing God and I can’t do.  On a side note, I worked up a killer good sweat.

So what does this have to do with being a woman entrepreneur?  You figure it out...try some leaping and dancing to four praise songs and let me know what happens.