"Taste the Fruits"

Who remembers the song from the 1970’s named Disco Inferno? I would suspect most, considering our age, reading this Pep Talk can recall that vibrating and gyrating hit made hugely popular in the 1977 film, Saturday Night Fever.

Well, on a recent morning at the gym, the song, inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame a few years back, came blaring over the sound system and, not surprisingly, everyone’s energy increased dramatically. From my perch atop a StairMaster machine, I could see others, while putting their bodies through the paces too, moving and grooving to the upbeat rhythm.

There was an obvious surge of energy, sparked by the music, emanating from our bodies and the room. Most of us were singing along and when the lead singer from the Trammps belted out, “Satisfaction came with a chain reaction”, I felt like screaming, “Amen brother!”

There was a chain reaction, call it unity of spirit, pulsing through Kinetics Fitness Studio. It was fun to experience and made the “sweat a day keeps the doctor away” workout far more tolerable. The thought “satisfaction came with a chain reaction” stuck with me the rest of the day and led to this musing from Poor Man’s Porch.

I kept thinking about how it ties into the mission of the Faith, Life and Sports (FLS) Foundation and our goal to inspire others to play like champions wherever they roam. Through our programs, services and products we’re trying to create a chain reaction of satisfaction within others to successfully live in harmony with self and others.

A big part of the philosophy is embracing unity of spirit - a chain reaction - and respecting diversity of belief. What does “embracing unity of spirit” mean? Well, to me, much like what transpired within the gym that morning while listening to the music, unity of spirit is something easy to experience, but perhaps, hard to define. It’s like how Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, in 1964, when trying to define pornography, stated, “I know it when I see it.”

To be part of a group experiencing, or witnessing, unity of spirit energizes us with hope and confidence. The challenge is to make sure unity of spirit centers on thoughts, words and actions honoring us, nurturing those dependent upon us and adding value to the communities we serve - the terrific trio test, right?

Spirit, when used as a verb means: “to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.”
Everyone present in the gym that morning was certainly urged on and stirred up by the music that started a chain reaction of spirit.

How could we, perhaps, be part of a spirit chain reaction - home, work or elsewhere? How could we utilize our gifts for the betterment of self and others?

Galatians 5:22-23 suggests there is great benefit to unity of spirit: “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things, there is no law.”

Inside that gym, exposed by a great song, unity of spirit - satisfaction with a chain reaction - swept us away to a very good place. Try and allow the same to happen to you this week, wherever you roam.

And remember to taste the nine fruits. They’re always in season, readily available and there’s no law limiting your indulgence.