Good morning…
Six weeks ago the Spirit of God moved, undeniably.
It happened after an energizing walk and talk through the neighborhood of my longtime friend, Martha Kimbel. She and I were sitting at her kitchen island drinking water after our walk when, out of the blue, I felt nudged to ask, “Martha, would you ever consider coming back to teach a fitness class at the church?”
For twenty-five years, Martha was a beloved fitness instructor, teaching life-giving classes to a gym full of women several mornings each week. Then her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Then his condition worsened. Then she couldn’t leave him alone. Then Martha needed to stop teaching to stay home as his caregiver. That was eight years ago. After a very painful journey of quiet loss after quiet loss, her loyal husband went to heaven two years ago.
Martha and I have been dear friends for so many important years, but I did not go to her home that day thinking we would talk about her coming back to teach. The Spirit simply nudged me and I asked, “Martha, would you ever consider coming back to teach a fitness class at the church?”
“I actually think about it all the time,” she said. “I love those women, I really miss them. But I will be seventy in November, and I am not the person I used to be.”
She came up with every excuse in the book until finally I said, “Martha, would you do it if I taught the class with you?” Instantly, her face brightened and the resistance fell off of her heart. “If you do it with me, I think I can do it.”
The Spirit got quickly to work, as Martha began choreographing moves to uplifting praise music. Song after song. Routine after routine. The palpable joy came back full force. With the same intensity came the fears and the doubts. We talked through the spiritual warfare, unpacking each anxious worry. I knew God’s enemy had a lot to lose if Martha Kimbel stepped back into the church to teach!
We called the class “The Ministry of Movement.” Physical movement – dancing to praise music, strengthening our bodies, stretching. Developmental movement – aging gracefully as we head into the years ahead. Spiritual movement – allowing the Holy Spirit to swirl through our time together.
Our first class was last Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 am. Amazingly, nineteen women joined us. One pregnant young mom and a smattering of various ages tiptoeing into our 80’s!
That afternoon, Martha received this loving text.
“Thanks be to God!” is right. This clearly is God’s thing – God’s timing, God’s desire, God’s joyful gift to us all.
Six weeks ago, the Spirit moved, undeniably.
…Sue…
P.S. We welcome all of you to join us on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 am at Northside Church in the Fellowship Hall. With questions, please reach out to Martha at Mkimbel54@gmail.com.
