Nathan Peterson works as the Urbana 18 writer at InterVarsity’s National Service Center in Madison, Wisconsin. When he’s not at work, you can find him working on his book, at the gym, or watching movies at home.
Bulging biceps. Watermelon-sized shoulders. Abs so defined you could see them from outer space. No, I’m not describing myself. Well, I guess I sort of am. I’m trying to describe the image in my head of the “ideal me.”
A lot of us, I’m sure, have heard how important it is to make a good first impression, which is true. But at the same time, people are complicated. It takes time to see who they really are, why they act the way they do.
As a kid, I always played it safe. When my uncle wanted to take me around the block on his motorcycle, I said no. When I was doing a report on airplanes and had the chance to take a free plane ride, I said no. And when a family from church invited me on their trip to Disney World—you guessed it—I said no.
Sometimes faith and a passion for fitness can feel like they're in tension. But the habits of a gym rat have redemptive qualities that can be applied to our walk with Christ.
