Eat That Frog

March 4, 2013

One year for Christmas Grand Rapids DS Laurie Haller gave a book to district clergy entitled, Eat That Frog. The thesis is that if the first thing you do every morning is to eat a frog, the rest of the day is a piece of cake. The metaphor, for me, comes in the form of morning exercise.  

I would not choose to eat that frog if I could do anything else, but thanks to our daughter Angie, whose employment with the YMCA got me a deal for a Y membership, I started in January to drive the 6 miles to the Belmont Y, a.k.a. The Wolverine World Wide YMCA (give credit where credit’s due, I have been taught). Remind me to thank Angie for providing me with the frog.

The workout takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours out of the day, and I must say I feel better for it. And indeed, it’s true: the cake I eat the rest of the day tastes oh so much sweeter.

Anyway, when two couples, good friends, gave Judy and me a retirement gift of a week at each of their neighboring Orange Beach condominiums in mid-winter, we of course rejoiced over the gift. I was even more overjoyed when they reassured us there was a workout room, swimming pool and tennis courts at the condo. I wouldn’t have to return home several pounds heavier and in the same out-of-shape condition in which I entered retirement. How sweet it is!

When I entered the exercise room and gawked at the complete set of state-of-the-art machines, I was relieved – it’s just like the Belmont Y. Beautiful! I can do my usual workout and avoid the guilt of returning home with lots of ground to make up.

There’s only one minor difference between the two locations: The Y in Belmont provides TV monitors where you can watch the news or a movie while you exercise. The workout room in Orange Beach provides a view of the Gulf of Mexico. So instead of listening to Matt, Savannah, Al and Natalie, I’m drinking in a sunrise on the silver-blue waters of the Gulf, along with a white-sand beach that is out of this world.

Sorry, Today Show team, there is no comparison.

I think when I return home I’ll print out one of those photos that Judy took, take it to the Belmont Y and tape it over Matt and Co. If they won’t let me do that, I’ll just close my eyes, and think of good times with friends, the sea, and the frog that tastes oh so much better when accompanied by one of God’s most amazing sites.

Thank you good friends; thank you Angie; thank you God: Frogs aren’t so bad after all.