Two or three at the gym

"Have you been to that new church?” a col­league asked me. “It’s really cool. They meet at a gym. You should definitely visit it.”

I nodded. “I’ve heard of it,” I said, trying not to reveal a lack of interest. The truth is that I could name a few worshiping communities that have started in gyms.

I’m hesitant about the idea partly be­cause I don’t have a passion for athletic vigor. I jog a 20-minute mile, but I typically give myself a gold star just for showing up. I have an aversion to participating in competitive sports because I lose at anything that requires expensive footwear or Lycra.