Thursday, November 30, 2017

Sports Bras and Spiritual Protection

When I first started running as an adult, I tried to be cheap and not invest in the proper equipment; if I could cut corners, I did. One day while running with my regular undergarments I discovered why 'the girls' needed proper protection. The constant pounding on the pavement mimicked the up and down motion of the girls and it was nothing short of uncomfortable. It was the first and last time I made that mistake. These days having the right sports bra is a top priority. I can't run if I don't have one - it's that simple.

The original Sportsbra with the creators
Lisa Lindahl left, and her manufacturing partner, Hinda Miller. (Courtesy of Lisa Lindahl)
A sports bra is a bra that provides support to female breasts during physical exercise. Sturdier than typical bras, they minimize breast movement, alleviate discomfort, and reduce potential damage to chest ligaments. [Source: wikipedia.com] Breasts have no muscle, yet without proper support, the skin and Cooper's ligaments (ligaments near the breast which give them their size and shape) can break down and cause sagging. Once your Cooper's ligaments stretch out, they do not bounce back. There are levels of control with sports bras - light, moderate, firm and maximum. For running, the preference is maximum control. Did you know that the first sports bra was made of two jockstraps sewn together? Protection in sports is important.

Sports bra design is important as breast displacement and velocity are reduced as breast support is increased. The market is flooded with all types of sports bras but the best sports bra feels like a good hug - everything is in its place and well supported while not being uncomfortable. It's also easy to remove because when it's too tight it is constricting which is what I imagine a straitjacket would feel like. It is quite comedic trying to remove a too-tight sports bra.

What do sports bras have to do with our Christian walk/run? Putting on a sports bra before a run indicates that we are concerned about our temple; that we want to protect what we have and not create unnecessary damage, and that we want to enjoy the run though it is strenuous and taxing. The Christian life is strenuous and taxing; in our own strength, it is not enjoyable because the old and new nature are constantly at war. But daily, through Him, we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12) Clothe yourself translates to put on or envelope in. [Source: bible.org] Daily we put on God's armor which has the perfect fit. Our arsenal as Christians involves the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace and preparation, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and prayer. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Amazingly God has not asked us to complete this life in our own strength. Just like a runner or athlete puts on clothing so that they can perform their best we as believers need to do the same. Just like putting on a sports bra constrains us for our betterment, so too does daily preparation in the Word, prayer and time spent with God.

If we aren't intentional about putting on that sports bra, we won't have an enjoyable run. Instead, we will be creating unnecessary discomfort for ourselves while being distracted by our restrictions. No serious female runner would run without a sports bra. So how serious are you about your Christian life?

Daily we are intentional about our preparation because we want to ensure we have the best run, we want to minimize discomfort and we want to enjoy the run. When we are done, we feel accomplished, victorious no matter what obstacles we encountered along the way. Wearing the right garments increases our chances of success. 

The next time you are tempted to start your day without spending time with God, don't cut corners, for then you are the equivalent of naked, unprotected and unprepared for what the day holds. Just like you must put on a sports bra to perform at your best so too, clothe yourself with what Christ has to offer.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13


Are you wearing your sports bra?

PS - I wrote this post with women in mind but a similar application can be made to men.

--Nylse

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3 comments:

  1. Had to smile about the sports bra. I'm a runner too. You are so right - it is miserable to run without one! And what a great spiritual point you make about how in our spiritual run we need to put on the right equipment. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Oh, Nylse, I love the way your mind works. And you are spot on.

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  3. Hi Nylse,

    I love that you are a runner! I never realized how cheap some of the running clothes were till I fully invested in the good stuff. Now it seems like my body rebels when I use anything other than what is the best support. The older I get the more I have to abide by that as well.

    And you are right, the intentionality to sacrifice for the investment is an investment in ourselves, like making sure we are fully clothed by His Armor and filled with His Spirit armed with His Word as we make our way through our day.

    So grateful you are a part of the #GraceMoments Community, thanks for sharing this post with us there.
    Blessings,
    Dawn

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