A Strong Mind

In October 2023, I suffered a stroke. I am 100% recovered. In fact, I have never been stronger mentally and physically than now at 65 years of age. Thank you God. A strong mind means finding God. In today’s world, it has never been harder to find God. If you are awake, life is fed to you through screens. These screens are your livelihood, your social life, your communication, your entertainment and much more. None of that is God. God is independence. God is free will.

When you have a stroke, you enter into the great American health care system. I was in the hospital, and after release, I saw cardiologists, neurologists, and physical therapists. It was a spooky time. While in my triweekly physical therapy sessions, I watched and analyzed the other stroke victims. Some were at death’s door. I came to realize that I did not want to trust this for-profit, Wall Street-funded system for my health. My stroke recovery should be dependent on me, not on a seriously flawed system. I needed to trust God.

I swam in the ocean daily while in Rio de Janeiro. My wife taught me yoga, and then she suggested I join her gym. I was late to this party, because my wife, and two sons were already members. One year later, I am a gym rat. The fitness center is my church. I regularly hit personal records on the exercise machines, and that is God is working. God wants me to be strong.

I spend hours in the gym. In between sets and repetitions, my mind is soaring, free to roam. Incredible and peaceful thoughts about my future appear and resonate. This is how I find God. Throughout the stroke experience, my mind has never been stronger.

It is not easy to be mentally strong, and more importantly to believe in God nowadays. Sure you can go to church, read the bible, and even tithe, but those are rituals. The question is whether God is making your body and mind strong. Or are you dependent on for-profit systems for your well being? or as my pastor friend Willie asks. Is your belief in God unshakable?