Last month I had a conversation with FCA President Les Steckel, who posed the following hypothetical situation.

“Jimmy,” he said, “what if I handed you the keys to a brand new car when you turned 16? How would you feel? And what if I then told you that it was the only car you would ever own and that it would have to last your entire life? Would that change the way you treated it? I bet it would. I believe it would radically change the way you took care of that car.”

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” — Proverbs 6:6-8 (NIV)

“Inconsistency is the only thing in which men are consistent.” — Horace Smith

Consistency leads to continuous forward progress. It’s defined by being steady, reliable and persistent. Inconsistency, on the other hand, is the enemy of excellence. It takes shortcuts and makes excuses. It results in a lack of progress and improvement. One step forward, two steps back. For many, this defines their health journey.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a role model as an admired person who inspires others to copy his or her behavior. Based on this definition, there is no question that athletes, especially in America’s sports-crazy culture, are role models. Unfortunately, those who look up to an athlete for his performance on the field don’t just imitate what he does in his profession. The watching eyes are often influenced to imitate the athlete’s off-the-field behavior, too—in words, clothes, actions, and attitude.

“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” – John 5:6

I have to be honest. As Americans, most of us are like stagnant ponds: We don’t move very much, and our health stinks.

It’s sad, but true, and it’s a lifestyle that goes against the one God intended for us. Instead of putrid ponds, I believe He created us to resemble lively, running rivers.