So, today I was pondering trying out for the show ‘Biggest Loser’.  Seriously.
I was thinking about what it might be like, how tough the workouts would be, if I’d be a ‘fierce competitor’ in challenges, etc.  Then I thought about the reward challenges where they surprise the contestant with a loved one from home that they haven’t seen in months and everyone cries etc etc etc

I wondered who I would want to come visit me and who I’d want to spend that valuable time with.  I’m sure contestants have to fill out paperwork ahead of time identifying which loved one to call and arrange travel details etc…therefore you probably have to decide that early in the application/acceptance process.  If I applied, I should probably be ready with that answer (who’s analytical?)

Wow.  I would imagine that being married would make the answer to ‘who should I put down as the loved on that I want to visit me during a surprise reward’ a no-brainer…hopefully you’d want your spouse.  But what about those that aren’t married?  As I pondered who I would want to visit with, I was overwhlemed with how many captivating and dynamite people the LORD has flooded my life with.  I still haven’t been able to make even a short list of the one person I would want to come visit…my musings: who would be refreshing? and encouraging? and fearless? and engaging? and appropriate with silence? and a good testimony to the watching world (and, let’s face it, someone who is not annoying)?  Given those criterion, would someone ever choose me to be their surprise loved one?  It allowed me to, once again, reflect on who I am (and who I am NOT but should be), to reflect on who God made me to be (and whether I am or am not being that person), to reflect on the resources He’s provided for me, etc.  

Last year I made a list called ‘People Who Bring Me Joy’…some names came quickly, some names came reluctantly, after some real consideration some names did not make the list at all.  Being in relationships is amazing in good ways and bad ways, but either way, I am profoundly aware that being in relationships with other humans is critical…demonstrated by God seeking to be in a relationship with each one of us, individually.  There is power in relationships: power to nurture, power to hurt, power to encourage, power to heal, power to torment, power to forgive, power to give hope, power to embarrass, power to show sacrifice, just so much power.  I think the profundity of the power is that relationships possess the opportunity ability to show others the love of Christ.  Wow.  I can’t believe God gives us, lame humans, so much power in His name.  He is an amazing risk taker (well, an omniscient risk taker..which doesn’t allow for risk, I suppose)!

Soooo, all that to say… I still haven’t decided who I would want to have as a visitor.  Though it’s a test of sorts to remind me that what I do know is that I want to possess the qualities that make people want to want Christ.  The journey of refinement through failure and victories never ends!