Winter Pushback!
by Scott Shaffer

Angry, winter skies hover over our community, pour down relentless frozen pellets.
Pines usually pointing to heaven sag under ice armor; some splinter, leave gashes.

My body and soul crave blue skies and sun. Duties and rare tension with a friend
cast a pall upon me. I drive to my exercise class, and trudge toward the gym.

Winds whoosh and smite my face; damp chill penetrates my down jacket.
Unfamiliar front-desk folks greet me with a cheery, “Good morning!”

Whoa, our trainer has put “The Wheel of Death” on the white board!
Constant motion–stationary bike, running, jump-roping, battle ropes!

Over 100 pushups in one hour. Pushing and pulling kettle bells, dumbbells,
bands, medicine balls. Why do people do this?! … Maybe to push back against:

an aging body; discouragement; daily demands; disappointments; health problems;
misunderstandings; constant media reminders of ugly human conflict.

I wonder how sweating and grunting push back against all this dreariness.
The boom box blares, “Brick House”; we chime in (not quite the Commodores!);

dance–well, sort of! It’s fun to move our bodies! We clap, spur one another on;
cut up and laugh; catch up personally; recount youthful adventures;

make new friends; discuss headlines; encourage each other, promise to pray.
Later, I exit–spent, but energized; fatigue has fled; sun shines in my soul.

In the frigid parking lot, a careworn stranger slogs towards me.
I beam a smile, say, “Hi! Have a great workout!”



 

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