A Man and a Bottle Cap

“Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.” - Malcom Muggeridge

Some moments in time are extraordinarily impactful. One such moment in my life forever convinced me of the importance of physical fitness.

It transpired while I was out of town for the holidays and attending an unfamiliar church on Christmas Eve. While the evening service was beautiful, it was a scene from among the congregation involving a man and a bottle cap that was unforgettable.

The man appeared to be in his mid to late sixties. Inconspicuous among the other worshipers, he sat in the rightmost seat of a row near the front of the sanctuary. I observed how those around him went out of their way to greet him and shake his hand. It was clear by the reference displayed that he was a highly respected member of the congregation.

The bottle cap appeared from under the man’s chair mid service, having been dropped by a woman sitting in the row behind. It was of the small, clear, plastic variety that causes environmentalists no end of angst. Hitting the floor, the cap rolled to a stop in front of the man, catching his attention.

A Good Samaritan, the man bent down to return the cap to its blushing owner. After three unsuccessful attempts, he gave up. He was unable to pick up the cap. It was clearly his beer belly that prevented him from completing his intended act of service. All he returned to the woman was a shrug of his shoulders and a sheepish grin.

The picture for me was stark. Here was a man who, because of a lack of physical fitness, was limited in his ability to serve, and by extension, to protect and provide. Certainly, fitness isn’t everything (the Apostle Paul in fact says it profits comparatively little), but I was reminded that my body is a gift to be built up, strengthened and maintained for as long as possible in order to serve God and others.

Although we all have various physical limitations and our bodies naturally lose effectiveness with age, what we should seek to avoid are poor choices and unhealthy habits that cause us to become physically incapable. And instead practice daily habits that make us more effective human beings.

Like many of us, I have my parents to thank for any healthy habits I possess. My mom introduced me to healthy dieting and my dad got me into exercising. From the age of ten, I’ve been hooked on healthy living, but even today it’s a learning process and sometimes a battle. As I’ve aged and entered and exited various stages of life one motivation remained constant - to be useful.

Whether it’s carrying a load for a stranger, or being able to protect family, or living long enough to pass on wisdom to grandchildren, being useful means using our bodies to serve others, complete tasks, and conquer challenges.

Like one of Jesus’ parables, the Christmas Eve scene between a man and a bottle cap was short, simple and powerful. May it also be motivational.

Now get out there and courageously live an unsafe but good life.