The Treadmill

The Treadmill

Years ago I invested in a treadmill that would allow me to train for long-distance running. It featured an incline that was capable of taxing me as if I were running in the hills back home and good speed. I used the treadmill to train when weather conditions were poor. When I maxed both speed and incline it really helped to build my speed and strength as a distance runner. 

In 2002, one of my children spilled a large container of water on the console of the treadmill, which also ran into the area where the motor sits. Something short circuited and I've never been able to use the incline feature since that time until this morning. I've taken things apart and put them back together again many times, but simply could not fix the broken incline feature.

I can no longer run because I have a false hip as a result of an accident.  Yesterday, as I lazily walked on my treadmill, with no incline, I offered a prayer and asked God if it would be alright for my false hip if I were to walk on a steep incline. I felt his pleasure upon me and then felt confident to ask him if he would fix whatever ailed my treadmill incline feature. He promises us that whatsoever we ask that is right in faith he will give unto us. He knows that I don't like to workout at gyms where there are a lot of inappropriately clad people, and that I don't like to have to travel long distances and waste time just to exercise. I prefer rolling out of bed, turning on my scriptures, and walking. He knows I need more intensity than I've been able to get without the incline functioning properly on my treadmill and without being able to run. So I asked him if he would kindly repair my treadmill for me.

I wish I would have thought to stick around and watch him fix my treadmill, but it did not occur to me to do so until this morning. This morning, as I went out into my garage for my hour walk, I turned on my iPod and began to ponder the scriptures. Then, I pushed the steepest incline button and to my great joy discovered that the full functionality of my treadmill was restored. I am now able to walk 1/3 as many steps to achieve my walking objectives, which saves me time and is much easier on my false hip. It also will allow me to build greater strength than if I were to continue to walk on the flat alone. I wish I could share the joy and gratitude I feel with you. We have such a loving, merciful, and kind Lord.

I've been assured that the day will come when the Lord will restore my hip fully and that I will once again be able to run through the hills. In the meantime, it is important that I become converted to walking so that I can more effectively share this more universal solution with others. Walking is truly sufficient exercise for anyone to enjoy good health, especially if you can add some hills or the incline of a treadmill. Walking doesn't pound you, yet it engages the lymphatic, cardiovascular, and muscular systems fully. In fact, I've written in another article that walking is a primary activity in every blue-zone region in the world that hosts the world's longest-living people. Walking to the store, or to church, or to a neighbor, or to work, and so forth are traditional practices that remain preserved in every blue-zone region throughout the world. Yet, we hop in a car on Sundays just to drive a couple of blocks to church. We drive to the grocer, to events for our children, and to just about every place we go. We need to reset our mental programming and discover the joy and benefits of walking or bicycling to and from.

I encourage you to walk the neighborhoods, hills, valleys, and the mountains, and even to walk on a treadmill with steep inclines if you have such access. If you walk in the hills, learn to identify edible plants that are native to your area. Then, as you walk gather all the greens you need each day. They will be organic and will not be a product of GMO manipulation, nor will they be sprayed with pesticides and herbicides. You can enjoy them in salads, drinks, soups, stir-fries, and so forth. I've done this on several occasions and it is quite delightful. However, I give this warning. Do not eat anything you cannot positively identify as an edible plant.

Ask God for whatsoever you need that is right, and be believing that he will give unto you that which you need in order to do his will each day. Keep his commandments, remember him always; seek and do his will daily; forgive everyone who has offended you; seek to reconcile with those who have aught against you; pray always, and feast upon his words daily.

We live in a time when we must have sufficient oil in our lamps. No amount of emergency preparedness will protect us from the storms that will very soon befall us, although obedience in these matters will afford us some protection through covenant promises to the obedient. The only protection that will be available for that which we will face will be from heaven. This protection is accessed only by obedience to covenants. We must learn and live pure religion. Keep your promises to God and he will keep his to you. He canst not lie. If you fail to live pure religion, you have no promise.

Set your physical and spiritual inclines to maximum and do not delay to become fit spiritually and physically to the extent you are able. Ask God for the capacity to walk fully into His light today and everyday. And as my dear father used to say, "Make hay while the sunshines, for the clouds are gathering and the storms will all too soon commence."