The Treadmill

First, notice the article adjective that denotes the noun. It is not an because treadmill doesn’t start with a vowel. Neither is it a because this machine is not just an indefinite example. The was chosen on purpose. The black and silver Pro-Form Cadence Lt was selected for a special need and a special place because a time had arrived to call it into being. If you know me well at all, structured exercise is not the phrase that comes to mind. I never played a team sport. One venture into partner ping-pong and a tiddlewinks ranking in one contest were my athletic highlights. Even walking with a certain grace came to me in the middle part of my life.

I realized that I could fit daily exercise into my day when I taught at a school near my house that had a free gym for teachers. I could go early enough to “work out” and shower and be upstairs in time for my first class. Daughter and I did a spin class together, and at times I tried the elliptical trainer. Amazingly, after a good bit of huffing and puffing and stopping short of my goal, I did improve. A marathon was not in my future, yet steps forward were possible.

What tipped the scales to ownership? The marathon is still unreachable. Steps every day increased in importance with age added. Starting in September I set 3 miles a day, sometimes in increments, as a doable goal. Through the fall I tallied up an average of 2.6. That took into account sloughing off time and rainy days. The calendar does turn, and even in May Houston hit 85 degrees with panting humidity. Mental preparation for some changing of space and releasing dollars, and middle son went with me to a BigBox to find THE right treadmill for me. Then I was ready to think more about details.

I rearranged some furniture and freed up a place other than the living room to house the equipment. I went confidently alone to ask the right questions of a young salesman who had to absent himself to find out every answer. Forty minutes later I had paperwork for the machine and the contact with a company that would come deliver and install – the best dollars I have ever spent. Walking outside may be my place of choice. Commitment to steps clocked will have to include inside.

Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths of your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12: 12 – 13