Blow Torch

I first visited a sauna over twenty years ago. One of my siblings had paid for annual gym membership, but had to leave town months to its expiry. By happenstance, transfer of membership was graciously handed to me.

So I made a mental note to maximise usage, perchance the next year would probably not consider gifting me in a similar way.

A couple of days later found me at the facility strutting along like a peacock, gym bag in hand, feeling very bourgeoisie. Sadly, I didn’t have much of an audience given that was a working weekday. I quickly dressed into appropriate attire with a half hearted desire to go to the gym. But on my way, I saw the sauna sign and in a flash made a quick detour... it was more appealing than the treadmills and the boisterous instructors. Anyway, wouldn’t the unnecessary fat still melt, albeit in a different easier way? How ingenious!

On opening the door, I realised that I was the only one in the room. The rest must have been at the gym, hehehe... With a sneaky smile, I gently eased myself into the steamy room, lay on the wooden benches, shut my eyes ready to enjoy an uninterrupted hour of pure bliss and fat reduction.

But my friend, this was not to be; because just after a couple of minutes, I was ready to leave. I was sweating like a bull in summer. I felt like I was suffocating and was going to die... in a sauna. Who even does that? I hastily made a beeline to the door and no, I have never been to a sauna since.

But unbeknownst to me, a few decades years later, a similar situation crept up my side like an unwanted stray; without membership, invitation or notice; with similarities of a blow torch. A blow torch is handy and easy to use, capable of producing a tremendous amount of heat and dangerous if not used carefully. It is also used to cook and as well as add finishing touches to food. So imagine the heat of a blow torch on the back of your neck furiously descending to the upper back, before spreading out neatly out onto your face. Not once, but intermittently during the day... and night. Even though it lasts for less than fifteen seconds, the discomfort on another level; story of another day.

So when you see one of my kind, hastily peeling off layers of clothing, fanning themselves frantically, even at freezing temperatures, take it in stride. Pretend, ignore or just give them that knowing look. We’ll know you know. No need of words.

All of this is to say, that we need to embrace the season that we find ourselves in living in. Be present in the moment, appreciate the place that the moment presents and live appropriately according to the moment.

Consider the ‘... men of Isaachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do...’ I Chronicles 12: 32