The Purpose of Sweating
I vividly
remember a time when I’d close myself indoors to hide from the climbing
temperatures outside. Although I lived out west and the air was dry, my
tolerance for the sun’s presence was pretty pathetic. I was always seeking for
cold, hissing at a wave of heat. I squinted at the sunshine outside my window,
wondering when such a hell would pass and I could engulf myself in the freezing
throng of winter again. I had a lot of reasons for feeling this way, but one in
particular was that I hated the sensation of sweating.
Let’s go
to last year. Biloxi, Mississippi. One of my favorite places on God’s green
Earth. This is where Heavenly Father really challenged me physically. This was
my first area where I shared a car. A lot of you who served foreign missions will
probably roll your eyes and tell me I was pampered for even having a car, and
honestly, you’re right. I was. At this point in my mission, I’d been blessed to
have a car full-time in each area. But, in Biloxi, we shared two cars between
three companionships. This mean I’d be driving for two weeks and then have
nothing but my feet and my trusty bike for seven days before the cycle would
start all over again.
Summer was
just beginning. I was directly beside the suffocating presence of the Gulf
Coast everyday. My hope was dwindling.
We lived
across a long bridge, just outside of our area. Everyday we biked a mile or two
from our apartment, to the bridge, across it, and into the small area where we
were assigned to labor. The bridge wasn’t that bad—until the heat index reached
104.
We didn’t
know it was like that when we left the apartment. I just knew the sun felt like
it was two inches from my face. Heat blisters were already eating away at my
feet where I stood beside my bike on the sidewalk. That day, it was hot. And I
was okay with it.
My most
vivid memory of that day was flying to an appointment we were going to be late
for. The air was lukewarm, but felt amazing underneath the sizzle of June’s
heat. I grinned the whole way, keeping my breaths even as my calves burned.
That feeling was distant. I didn’t have time to feel it.
When we
came to a screeching halt on the porch of our appointment’s house, reality
began to set in—or the sweat did. Right on top of my skin.
Standing
on their porch seeking shade, I lifted my arm to eye level. I could see tiny
beads of sweat sitting atop the individual pores on my arm. My face was not exaggerating
the phrase “dripping with sweat.” I was Niagara Falls. The next Wonder of the
World. My shirt was tighter than when I’d left, only because it was so wet it
was stuck to me.
My companion
was horrified. I laughed.
I go on
morning walks now. Sometimes those are afternoon walks, and those are the
warmest walks. That’s the day I think of when the humidity here climbs. And
when I’m walking and sweat is rolling down my eyebrows, I don’t reach to wipe it
off—because I have never been sweatier than I was on that day.
I didn’t
write this post to tell you about the natural coolant your body emits when it’s
hot. I wrote this post to tell you about change.
I’ve
written about that a lot on this blog. I’m sounding like a broken record at
this point, but this thought has weighed heavy on my mind.
In the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we partake of the Lord’s sacrament
every Sunday. It is blessed by His authority and administered to us in
remembrance of Christ’s body and blood. We partake of it to “always have the
Spirit to be with us” as long as we “do always remember him, and keep his
commandments which he hath given [us]” (Moroni 4:3; 5:2). This renews the
promises we made at baptism (see Mosiah 18). It is an opportunity to seek
guidance on how we are to improve every week. It is an opportunity to remember
Jesus Christ in His fullness and repent.
Change. We
are to change every week. To put aside those things we did to break our
promises—whether we meant to or not—and do better.
As a
missionary, I made goals every week to make myself better. My companion told me
what I should do to improve. I frequently saw flaws in myself and actively
worked with the Lord to change those things about me. It felt like I was
running through change. The treadmill was always on the highest speed.
I feel
like I’m on the lowest setting now. Like I’m barely jogging. My change is
happening at a snail’s pace. I am repenting of the same things every week. It
is driving me crazy.
I
mentioned this concept to a friend the other day. I had an epiphany.
Change
does not always happen in seven days.
I was not
able to become more tolerant to the sensation of sweat in a week. That was a
process that took a full year and a half. Something was wrong and through
experience, I changed.
Make goals
and change. Sometimes you will change
in a week. But, most of the time, especially when you are home, when you are
living your everyday life, change will come slower. Sometimes you are running
faster than you think, but if you try to crank the speed on your treadmill too
quickly, you will fall.
In the
course of your change, seek diligently and consistently with Heavenly Father to
know what you need to do. And if you do those things—no matter how fast or slow—you
will change.
Be patient
with yourselves.
Have a
good week.
Hello sister Rose. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you as well as know you through your profile on the blogger and the blogger and the blog post. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 38 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have you come to Mumbai with your friends to work with us during your vacation time. I am sure you will have a life changing experience. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede
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