Here’s an overlooked story from the Bible I wonder how many people think about the parenting (and motivation!) lesson from it.
Yesterday… as me, Bethany and baby Kason were getting ready for church, the topic of the 12 apostles and what ultimately happened to them came up when talking with my wife.
I shared with her that sadly, as far as I (and Google 😉 ) knew, all 12 were killed.
As an example, I brought up the story of how John the Baptist met his end. I told that story to Bethany and when we got to church, it just happened to be the main story that our Pastor talked about during his sermon…
… Wow, how’s that for a crazy coincidence!? 🙂
When God gives me crazy coincidences like that, its how I know that today’s message needs to be heard by someone.
Which is why I’m sharing it with you here.
If you’re not familiar with that story, hear it is in a nutshell:
King Herod was throwing a massive feast for his birthday and it was a humongous gathering of "who's who" and powerful people in all the land.
The alcohol was flowing pretty freely and it was a grand ol' time until the shocker of all twists happened near the end. Herod's stepdaughter, Salome, was apparently this world class dancer and put on a spectacle of a dancing performance that wowed everyone there, especially Herod.
(I keep wanting to write 'Stallone' with her name... byproduct of being an 80's kid and growing up with Rocky and Rambo, I guess) :) )
In his hasty pleasure and delight from her performance, in front of all those powerful people, he promised to give her whatever she asked for, up to half his kingdom.
(that must have been some dance!)
Being just a young, inexperienced girl and not sure what to ask for, she consulted the most trusted person she knew -- her mom, Queen Herodias, new wife of King Herod.
In a bit of soap opera drama that would make Days of our Lives proud, it turns out that Herodias had a HUGE grudge against John the Baptist, who was chained up in the castle's dungeon.
He was there because he was openly against Herod and Herodias marriage and brought it up time and time again during his speeches.
As people in power sometimes do to those influential people that speak up against them, King Herod had John jailed but kinda liked the guy and wasn't planning on killing him.
(that's an interesting topic we shall revisit another time, my dear Workout Hero) :)
So now here comes kiddo daughter Salome consulting her mom, Herodias, about what she should ask for in exchange for her awe-inspiring dancing prowess.
Because of the rage and anger Herodias had towards John the Baptist, she told her daughter to have John's head delivered to her on a platter.
"Okay, mom. That's dark. Like really dark. But you're the elder and you know best so I guess that's what I'll do."
- I imagine little Salome replied back.
Salome went back to step daddy and told him what she wanted. Herod was taken aback. He knew John was a holy man, and he feared the repercussions of killing a prophet.
But he had made the promise in front of his guests, and his pride and position were at stake. He couldn't lose face in front of all these people and be made a fool, you know. So reluctantly, he nodded to the guards, sealing John's fate.
The executioner descended into the dungeon, and soon the deed was done. Herodias finally had her revenge. But to what end??
Now here’s where the parenting and fitness motivation lesson is had…
As far as I know -- to this day, we don't really know anything else about that super talented dancer Salome.
Safe to say, Christians certainly don't think highly of her for the role she played. I can't imagine how she was received during the time she was still alive.
I feel kinda sorry for her, what about you? Just a young innocent caught up in a star-crossed lovers' world she wasn't ready for.
She probably forever had that reputation and "black mark" attached to her name and it didn't matter what she did with the rest of her life. Maybe she went on to do great deeds and works. Who knows?
Here we are, some 2000 years later and that one act has defined her story. It's all we know about her.
Here's the thing though, it wasn't her fault... It was the mom's. Daughter didn't know any better. She trusted her mom and it wasn't her proudest parenting moment to use her daughter like that.
To sacrifice her daughter's reputation and honor in pursuit of her own selfish revenge. I can't even fathom doing something like that with my son with how much we love him. Just horrible parenting if you ask me.
Here now brings us to the Fitness Motivation moral from this story: Back when I was 65 pounds overweight and a shell of my former self, even though I hit rock bottom...
... I still didn't want to get back into it and on this "fitness journey", if you will.
At that rock bottom... the lowest point our marriage had ever seen, that night I lay awake in bed wrestling with a decision to make...
Should I... get onto a fitness journey -- join a gym, start working out, meal plan, all that stuff?
or
Stay right where I was?
I then imagined myself at the end of my life.
As an old man looking back over his time spent here on earth. I wondered what my legacy would be. What I would have been known for? Would my amazing wifey have even stuck around? I certainly didn't deserve her.
Up to that point, if I was to keep heading down the path I was on, I would have forever had the reputation of someone that used to be in great shape...
... but got married and let himself go. Failed his perfect wife.
His marriage. Broken the Promise I made on our wedding day to be the best husband I could for her.
Lots of unhappiness as a result. "There goes Erick," I imagined "the crowd" saying as I walked by...
"He used to have abs and muscles, but now look at him, he's so fat. What a loser."
That one thing might have defined my whole story.
I didn't want to be known for that. So I chose a different Path.
I wanted 'Redemption' as part of my story. My reputation.
To lose the weight and reclaim my in-shape body in honor of my wife. For the family we were looking to start.
I chose the Path of the Workout Hero before there was a name for it. There come certain times in our lives where we are at these crossroads, if you will. Big time inflection points that can make or break our lives, our reputations, our legacy and what we will be known for. What generations will say about us long after our time is up here on earth.
What is said when it is our great great grandchildren seeing our picture (or would it be a hologram because its in the future? :) ) If our entire life and the decisions we make, the actions that arise from those decisions...
were summed up and put onto a single page... what would it say?
Much like all we know about little Salome and her revenge obsessed mother. If you're already on this Path of the Workout Hero, you simply just need to stay on it and it'll happen for you, wherever you're at.
It is my joy to honor you as your Guide on this Path. And if you're not yet, then consider this your Call to get on it. To take a few minutes this week and ask yourself those same questions I did.
Maybe this is one of those big inflection points for yourself?
(Just don't make the Salome mistake and consult the wrong person for advice ;) )
Whenever you're ready, just shoot me back a message to this saying you want to get going.
With that, I bid you a fond adieu and excited for all the places you will go!
Your Guide & biggest fan,
Mr Trainer man Erick