Northeast FCA

Kirstin’s Korner: Move Joyfully

tnared@fca.org (Trevor Nared) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 13:58:47 GMT

What comes to mind when you hear the word joy? One of the first thoughts that pops into my head is a carefree child running through a field, jumping in puddles or climbing a tree. A big smile on their face, they are relishing the moment, pure and simple. They aren’t concerned about running faster or farther than the day before and aren’t conscious of how they appear to someone looking on. They are taking utmost pleasure in the chance to move through the beauty of creation.

This image fits well with my understanding of the word “joy” – happiness and contentment that transcends circumstances. As followers of Jesus, we always have reason for joy. The apostle Peter describes this beautifully:

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

When we have this big picture joy, it naturally trickles down into the most seemingly mundane moments of our lives. But for athletes pursuing excellence, joy can be tricky to cultivate amidst the daily grind of training. Though our experiences differ, here are some themes I have seen and experienced in sport:

As high-performing people, we set our sights on big goals, and chase after them with all we have. This means early morning practices, putting in the work when we don’t feel like it, enduring pain, and grinding out rep after rep with our eyes on the prize.
When we don’t achieve our goals, or when we do and are left to seek the elusive “next big thing,” we feel empty. If we are not on our way to something greater than before, it’s hard to take pleasure in the process.
Eventually our competitive days are behind us, and our approach to exercise changes. We might see it as something we have to do to stay physically healthy or look a certain way, rather than something we get to do and have fun with.

The pursuit of athletic excellence is not a bad thing. God desires each of us to develop the talents He’s given us for His glory! And certainly, exercise is key to maintaining physical health throughout our lifespan. But our purpose can easily get lost amidst the daily grind, and consequently steal our joy. When the thought of going out and training or exercising every day brings about dread, or the only thing we look forward to is the end of a workout, something is off. Here are a few practical steps we can take to move joyfully, no matter what stage of life and sport we’re in:

Focus on gratitude – A lifelong runner who has suffered many injuries, I’m often tempted to focus on what I can’t do anymore and be sad or bitter about it. But my heart is so much lighter when I recognize all I still can do and rejoice in it. No matter how much I might wish my body looked different or was capable of more, it truly is amazing that my heart pumps blood and my muscles contract and my eyes can behold the surroundings my Creator made, whether I am winning races or strolling through town. Make a list of all the things you’re grateful your body can do and reference it often!
Make it fun – Enjoyable habits stick best! Exercise becomes so much more fun and sustainable when we chose activities we truly love. If you’re in a rut, think outside the box and try something completely new, like ice skating or rock climbing.
Connect with others – Exercise is a great opportunity for fellowship. The minutes pass by effortlessly when catching up with friends, and it’s a surefire strategy for crowding out negative thoughts that might come up while moving solo.
Pray and worship – When you do go it alone, invite God into it. There are so many ways to do this! Thank Him for the opportunity to exercise, and take advantage of distraction-free time to talk with Him. I once heard a great idea for interval workouts, such as running repeats on a track – dedicate each repeat as a prayer for one specific person, making it an effort motivated by love. If you like music, put on your favorite worship playlist! God is pleased when we worship Him, the Giver, as we delight in the gift.

May your sweat be a joyful celebration of the gift of movement, as you run this race of life with endurance!

Kirstin Sandreuter is an Area Rep in Cumberland Co, Maine. Kirstin participated in cross-country and track in her years at Cornell University and while in high school. She graduated from Cornell with a degree in Nutritional Sciences and Dietics. Have a question for Kirstin? Email her at: ksandreuter@fca.org .

The post Kirstin’s Korner : Move Joyfully appeared first on Northeast FCA .

Kirstin’s Korner: Rest and Digest

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 19:14:00 GMT

It’s Monday morning. The alarm goes off and your head fills with thoughts of the day’s obligations. You check your phone, take a shower, pack your bag… time to hit the road, but you haven’t eaten anything. You grab a granola bar as you rush to the car, scarf it down while you drive, and call it breakfast.

Sound like a typical morning? You’re not alone. With the crazy pace of life, sitting down for a meal can seem like a huge waste of time. Who has enough hours in the day to prepare food and pause to enjoy it? Our to-do lists never end, and there are always fires to put out. It seems far more efficient to knock something off the list while eating. You could catch up on emails, drive somewhere, or watch a show. You could skip meals altogether and hustle through the day until you’re ravenous. Seems like the ultimate time saver! Or maybe just the opposite is true. What if slow ing down and enjoy ing food enhances our potential for excellence ?

Jesus slowed down for meals with those He loved. He ensured the 5,000 were fed, celebrated a wedding feast at Cana, and shared breakfast with His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection. On each of these occasions, there was much work to be done, but Jesus was not too hurried to pause and eat.

If the Son of God Himself slowed down to eat during His time on earth, God must have designed our bodies to function this way. A quick look at physiology confirms that He did! Our autonomic nervous system, which regulates our bodies’ essential functions without conscious effort, has two branches – “sympathetic” and “parasympathetic.” The sympathetic nervous system is our “fight or flight” mode, active when we’re under stress. Digestion is a low priority in this state. If you’re running away from a bear, you need to direct blood flow to your muscles, not your gut! Unfortunately, our bodies adjust to all stressors the same way, whether we are running from a bear or hustling through a busy day.

The parasympathetic nervous system is our “rest and digest” mode, active when we are relaxed. In a parasympathetic state, our bodies prioritize digestion, allowing us to fully break down and absorb the nutrients in food. How cool is that? God designed us to eat in a relaxed state! When we are fully present at meals, our bodies make the most of the food we take in. We finish our meals fully satisfied , not simply full.

In challenging seasons of life, slowing down for three leisurely meals a day might seem out of the question. That’s okay! I hope you’ll accept this simple challenge though: pick one meal or snack each day to eat free from distractions.

Pause for a moment to notice your hunger level. Thank God for providing this food and the ability to enjoy it. Chew slowly. Put your fork or spoon down between bites, and appreciate flavors, aromas and textures. Let your body and mind slow down for a few precious moments, receive nourishment, then take the next steps of your day with fresh focus. Perhaps this shift in our approach to eating – one of our most basic human needs – is the first step towards slowing down our pace of life. A step towards a calm, unhurried pace that reflects trust in God as we incorporate rhythms of rest.

The post Kirstin’s Korner: Rest and Digest appeared first on Northeast FCA .

Kirstin’s Korner: Eating with Wisdom and Gratitude

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 00:54:00 GMT

Have you noticed that nutrition advice is ever-changing? Carbohydrates are good one day and bad the next. Breakfast used to be the most important meal of the day; now, you should skip it to save calories. For those of us working hard to be good stewards of the bodies God gave us, it can be downright exhausting to figure out the best way to eat.

When I chose nutrition as my college major, I was convinced I would solve this puzzle once and for all. Finally! I would learn from the experts, debunk the myths, and nail down the perfect diet for physical wellness. Four years and a nutrition degree later, my biggest take-away was this: there is no such thing as a perfect diet.

Does this mean making mindful food choices is a waste of time? That anything goes and we don’t need to give a second thought to caring for our bodies? Absolutely not!

Scripture makes it clear that God wants us to care for our physical bodies. There are many dimensions of wellness, and we are called to be good stewards of each of them for God’s glory. Jesus speaks to this in Mark 12:30 with His command to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength .” We were bought with a price and must care for our physical bodies as an act of worship to the one who created them. We should cultivate good physical health so that we are equipped to carry out God’s call for us on earth. Our food choices certainly play a role in this call.

But cultivating good health through nutrition can’t be boiled down to a list of good foods to be eaten and bad foods to be avoided. It’s not that simple! Food contributes to overall wellness in many ways – physical nourishment, yes, but also social connection, service of others, and gratitude for God’s good gifts. Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 4:4 that “… everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”

What if our greatest need to guide our food choices is not more knowledge (hear me – nutritional science will always be evolving!), but wisdom ? Jesus’ brother James encourages us to seek wisdom in all things.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

Food plays a unique role in each of our lives, and the specifics of ideal nutrition will vary for each of us throughout our lives. So how do we eat the way God intends for us?

Here are two important steps:

There may not be a one-size-fits-all perfect diet, but we do serve a perfect God who provides good food and grants wisdom. We can trust Him to guide us as we steward our physical wellness! Freeing, right?

The post Kirstin’s Korner: Eating with Wisdom and Gratitude appeared first on Northeast FCA .

Aaron Mann

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 00:14:00 GMT

On staff with FCA since March 2019, Aaron Mann (Portland, ME) currently serves as the Area Director of Southern Maine. Mann continues to fulfill his passion of working to expand FCA’s ministry to coaches and athletes with his promotion to Regional International Coordinator (RIC), Northeast Region. He will lean on past ministry experience with FCA International in Portugal and his responsibilities as a Student Pastor. Through knowledge he obtained coordinating youth mission trips and student leadership programs, Mann is set to take RIC Northeast to a new level.

Mann fills the role that was formerly held by Nathan Bliss who was recently tapped as new Regional Vice President of the Northeast Region. Mann will support Bliss and the Northeast Region globally by facilitating and coordinating ministry with Canada.

Bliss had this to say about Mann’s promotion to the RIC role. “Aaron is a remarkable teammate with an enormous heart to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Under Mann’s leadership, FCA has flourished in Southern Maine. I am thrilled that he has embraced this opportunity to bring that same passion and leadership into this additional role. His extensive international ministry experience will help our region move to a new level of globally minded ministry. Adding Aaron to our Regional Leadership Team will immediately elevate Northeast FCA’s overall ministry and position us to support FCA Canada’s Pray, Give, and Go initiatives.”

“I am thankful to have been considered for the RIC position of the Northeast Region and am excited to serve the leadership and staff members of our region. I look forward to seeing how God develops the already strong relationship between the Northeast and Canada. What a blessing it will be to look back on these coming years and to see all of the ways the Lord uses our efforts.”

The post Aaron Mann appeared first on Northeast FCA .