“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17
Forsaken...no one ever wants to feel that kind of agonizing left behind feeling. Loneliness can be a barren, cold place, and there is great necessity in coming together, as a community, for the sake of one another. We are built for relationships with others. Revelation Fitness is a community. This community supports physical fitness, as well as the whole person in mind and body. My prayer is that the community grows to support one another through life’s journeys including meeting fitness goals, supporting one another, meeting one another, and growing as a community, where everyone feels accepted and belongs. We are only as strong as the communities that we belong to and are accountable to. It is my hope that we work together to become an effective community that works together to make each other better along the way. My pastor shared...we are not meant to walk this life alone - we are built for community.
In the article, “What Does "Iron Sharpens Iron" Really Mean? Scripture Meaning and Significance”, Michelle Lazurek shares, “I think about two iron rods rubbing together. As the friction increases, the heat between them increases, allowing them to create a spark between them. Although it may be uncomfortable for the rods to rub in that way, the spark that results, when fanned, becomes a flame that can’t be contained. There is a mutual advantage when you rub two iron edges together; the blades become sharper, causing the knives to become more effective in their ability.”
When iron sharpens iron, it isn’t always comfortable, but personal growth isn’t always comfortable either. If we are to be better and grow as human beings, who are responsible to one another, we have to put ourselves into practices that help us grow and continue to be willing to learn. For example, many of our members belonged to a community together, prior to Revelation Fitness. That community of women who exercised together, grew into something bigger...members became friends, friends felt like family, women supported women, women held one another accountable, and beautiful relationships flourished and continue to grow to this very day. How special is that? It was not all born into existence through rose colored glasses though...many became true friends who “cared enough to boldly speak the truth in love in one another’s life.” I had people do that for me, and we remain close friends to this day. Sometimes the truth hurts, grinds down the sharp edges….but in the end, it is worth it to have people in your life that walk with you through the good and bad.
Here’s the best news...we have the opportunity to choose who we surround ourselves with and those who we choose to allow to influence us. Iron doesn’t sharpen iron on its own though. It works reciprocally. We have the choice to choose groups and people in our life that will sharpen us and will allow us and be open to sharpening them. So, consider this...who do you want to sharpen you? What traits does this person have? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Self-Control, Wisdom, and the list may go on. If this is who you may want in your life, we have to commit to practicing these traits in our own life too. Sometimes, that may even mean letting go of people and circumstances that don’t align with what we need or the visions that we have for ourselves anymore. I have been there and know it all too well, but when I have changed the negative influences that have been in my life, my life has changed for the better.
If we want to build a community of belonging, I believe that we need to show Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, & Self-Control so that we can be a group that includes everyone and a place where everyone can identify with and feel that they belong.
One of my favorite authors and speakers, Brene Brown talks about how necessary belonging is to people. In her book, Braving the Wilderness, Brene talks about how BRAVING helps to create influential relationships that allow people to contribute more than they criticize. This acronyms stands for:
Boundaries - these are ok to have
Reliability - do what you say and you say what you do
Accountability - hold people and yourself accountable
Vault - there are 2 sides to the vault that keeps people's conversations private and safe on both sides
Integrity - choosing courage over comfort - choose what’s right over fun, fast and easy - we live in a space where this fun, fast and easy seems to trump what’s right
Non-Judgement - feeling like you can ask for help without judgement
Generosity - giving people the benefit of the doubt - You might say to someone “help me understand what happened” rather than “I can’t believe you did that” or “do you really think that was a good idea?”
Brene had a great quote and I wanted to share it…”Don’t walk through the world looking for evidence that you don’t belong and that you are not good enough...you will always find it”. For more on this topic, please take the time to watch this 30-minute link from MarieTV interviewing Brene Brown (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9FopgKyAfI - Be mindful that there is some explicit language used). BUT...here at Revelation Fitness, everyone, and I mean everyone, belongs. This community will be one of lifting up and supporting, like the footers in a house’s foundation, whose function is to let the beautiful home stand. We are that HOME.
With love,
Jen
Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise - So, Lion and Lamb Fitness by RF, let’s grow wise together.
Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity. - We can love and support one another in our community, even when our opinions are different.
Citations:
Holy Bible, New International Version, Biblica, Inc., Zondervan, 2011
Forleo, Marie, MarieTV, (9/12/2017), “Brené Brown Shows You How To "Brave the Wilderness", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9FopgKyAfI&t=37s
Green, C. (2020). As Iron Sharpens Iron: Why You MUST Raise The Bar On Who You Hang Out With [Ep #29]. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://livebuildchange.com/as-iron-sharpens-iron-why-you-must-raise-the-bar-on-who-you-hang-out-with-ep-29/
Lazurek, M. (2018, June 20). What Does "Iron Sharpens Iron" Really Mean? Scripture Meaning and Significance. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.ibelieve.com/relationships/how-to-find-and-become-a-friend-who-sharpens-others-as-iron-sharpens-iron.html