Recently, a friend invited me to join a motivational Facebook Group for guys with dad bods (if you don’t know what I mean by 'dad bod', check this out here).
 
After I cried a few tears and accepted the hard truth attached to the invite (totally joking here…sort of…not really), I was blown away by the messaging contained within the posts and threads of the men sharing in this group (these are intentionally kept general to honor the anonymity of the men in the group and their stories).
 
There were unflattering, vulnerable, honest “before” photos.
Some guys shared their stories – each one being different – that led to their health and body issues. 
Other guys shared dreams of what they want to do on the other side of their weight loss journeys. 
Some men even went as far as to share how they’d hit rock bottom at some point in their life and were looking to get out from beneath the guilt and shame they’d wrestled with in life. 
 
Many of these guys aren’t just trying to get their bodies back; they’re trying to get their lives back.
 
On its own, the level of vulnerability shared by the men of this group is inspiring.  But what I have been most blown away by is the support shown towards these guys by the other men who, by the way, are complete strangers, in response to the sharing of their stories. 
 
For the sake of anonymity and honoring their journeys I won’t share any specific quotes here either, instead I will give you some general, but common responses:
 
“You can do this.  We believe in you here.”
“I’ve been where you are.  It doesn’t get easier, but it will get better.”
“If you’re struggling, give me a call.  We’ve got your back.”
“When you feel like quitting, don’t.  Don’t listen to that voice inside you telling you that you can’t – you can.”
 
Some men have offered to pay gym memberships for guys struggling to cover those costs.  Some guys have even offered to pay rent or mortgages for a season as an incentive to keep others who are struggling with their goals pursing their healthier, more holistic lifestyles. 
 
Let me make this abundantly clear: these guys are strangers.  Most of them have never met beyond this social media page and yet here they are building each other up, supporting one another’s journeys, and even putting their money where their mouth is for complete strangers who need that extra push so that they don’t give up on becoming healthier and more whole. 
 
And all of this is happening online… on social media… on Facebook… on the places and spaces I’ve heard so many Christians say real community, real fellowship, real life just can’t happen.  Trust me, if you spend just 5 minutes in this digital group and read their threads, I guarantee you that you’ll start thinking differently about what’s possible online.  They may not be face to face, but they are most definitely heart to heart.
 
This community has demonstrated that, as important as physical contact is (and it absolutely is), you don’t have to be able to physically touch someone to touch them and change someone’s life. 
 
Oh, that our churches would look more like this online dad bod motivation group! 
 
Things don’t have to look the same for them to be life-giving.  Things don’t have to feel the same for us to build each other up in love.  Things don’t have to be the same for God to move powerfully within our communities.
 
I’m beginning to think that this online dad-bod support group might have more faith expressed in love than many of our churches!  Now before you take offense at that last statement, don’t forget that Jesus said that the most faith-filled person he encountered wasn’t a Jewish religious leader or even one of his disciples, but a desperate Roman Centurion who sought healing for his servant. (Matthew 8:10)
 
Jesus didn’t find that kind of faith where it was expected to be found, but that didn’t keep him from celebrating it when he found it!
 
Look, my guess is your church, your service, your schedule, your job, your routine, your norms, your life probably still doesn’t look quite like it used to, but we can either become bitter for how things have turned out or we can start believing that our God is bigger and better regardless.
 
I’m not trying to dismiss your pain or belittle your struggle – I just don’t want the beauty of what is happening here and now in Christ to be overshadowed by your memory of how things used to be 
 
Beloved, now isn’t a time to walk away from the people and places you’ve loved – this is a time to walk patiently with each other in the hopeful promises of God.  This isn’t a time to put each other down – this is a time to build each other up in love (1 Thessalonians 5:11). This isn’t a time to devour the weak, but to put up with the failings of the weak (Romans 15:1).  This isn’t a time to eat each other alive, but to come to the table of our Lord as broken people and eat together as one. (1 Corinthians 10:17)
 
This isn’t a time to complain… the world’s got plenty of that already.  This is a time to champion the name of Jesus, pursue His presence, embrace His mission, and do life together for the glory of God and the sake of the world.
 
Let’s take seriously the words of Paul at the close of Ephesians 4:
 
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  (Ephesians 4:29-32)
 
Alright, church, let’s get to it… sounds like we’ve got some working out to do.