Let's get spiritual
Opinion
As we ponder over why fewer people are going to Mass on Sundays, perhaps we should turn our attention to what IS attracting the masses.
If I were to point to one place that seems to be growing exponentially in popularity it would be the local gym.
It seems that every time I drive down Brighton Road or some other busy thoroughfare there is another gym popping up.
And if I see a group of people puffing and panting on the pavement I can be pretty sure they have come from the nearest gym and are doing a lap around the block to add some variety to their program.
Whether it’s weights, Pilates, spin sessions or some other type of gym activity, there is never any shortage of people willing to put their bodies through pain in order to be the fittest they can possibly be.
The plethora of ‘fit wear’ clothing brands is further evidence that gyms are riding high.
So what is driving this fitness phenomenon?
For the life of me I can’t understand why someone would want to spend their time in a sweaty room with massive mirrors that reinforce your need to exercise – and pay a hefty fee to do so.
Why would they not want to be outside in the fresh air, walking or running along the esplanade or in the hills, playing beach cricket or tennis at the many free local courts, swimming in the sea…the list goes on?
Is it the social aspect – but how much can you talk when you can hardly breathe? Is it because they are trying to emulate the rich and famous, or the latest Instagram influencer? Is it because they are time poor and they can fit in a relatively quick but high intensity visit to the gym amongst work, family, coffee and dining out?
Whatever the reason, it’s hitting the mark with not just young people but also the middle-aged; even retirement villages and aged care homes have gyms or regular exercise sessions.
Not that it isn’t good for people to want to be healthy and fit. But seriously, is it really fun?
The other place that isn’t having any trouble attracting people is the coffee shop, many of which are located within or adjacent to the gym!
I have to admit that I’m guilty of jumping on the coffee bandwagon (unlike the gym wagon) and can’t imagine not stopping at my favourite café – shout out to the Mediterranean at Glenelg South – on my way to work. Apart from the caffeine hit, there’s something special about Joe the barista knowing your name and your order, and there’s definitely a social side to drinking coffee with family and friends.
But just as with going to the gym, it’s something my parents’ generation would never have thought of doing. Why buy coffee when you can boil the kettle and make a Nescafe or cuppa at home? Why go to a gym when you can join the local sporting club and organise a social tennis day at Belair or beach cricket at Aldinga? Why do weights when your muscles are getting a workout through housework and gardening?
So what can the Church learn from the gym and coffee drinking cultures? Better marketing, more ‘influencers’, flexibility, making people feel welcome and staying connected…these would be a good start. God knows the product is a good one so it should be a lot easier to sell than a sweat session.
If people were as obsessed with their spiritual nourishment as much as they were with their physical fitness, our churches would be overflowing. And if they were overflowing, perhaps we could bring in coffee vans or build cafes next door!
As an aside, it was heartening to see two professional sportspeople displaying their faith in public recently: cricketer Sam Konstas made the sign of the cross as he walked to the pitch in his Test debut and Thanasi Kokkinakis did the same after he won his first round singles match in the Australian Open. Of course, there was little to no mention of this in media circles…no wonder we don’t have many influencers for young people in the faith space.
The National Centre for Evangelisation (NCE), an agency of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, is trying to address this by producing a booklet called Running to God, a collection of prayers for sport and testimonies of high-profile Christian athletes.
I have long been an advocate for combining sport and religion through sports chaplains and by incorporating blessings into sporting events, as was once the norm. If we can be more relevant to people’s ordinary lives, you never know, we might even kickstart a Catholic comeback.
