The other day at our house, I had a terrible scare. It happened just before dawn when I was face to face with someone I didn’t recognize. It was mind-chilling. So I took a long hot shower and fogged the mirror.

There’s nothing worse than an early morning reflection to take your breath away. Unless it’s those new girdle-enhanced panty hose. Or, the realization that my skin doesn’t fit anymore.

But, thankfully, there’s the old high school reunion to share -- or compare -- the misery. That’s what my husband, Bill, and I did recently at his 40^th reunion. For the most part, it seemed like an out-of-body experience. When we arrived, we discovered huge rooms full of old people that strangely resembled parents we used to avoid. As we watched in awe, these old-timers vigorously moved to Chubby Checkers "Twist and Shout." Undoubtedly, in preparation for the hotel masseuse they’d soon be requesting.

Above the din, my husband’s long-term memory kicked in as he recognized former high school friends. In turn, after a short delay, they summoned up their memories of him. Bill was barraged with classmates’ assurances that he hasn’t changed a bit. One of the favorite comments he heard was, "Doesn’t he look wonderful!" He does. And it sounds great. But the last time I heard that phrase, the object of admiration was lying in state.

So to preserve these bodies of ours for the next school reunion, we’re into exercise. At the local gym we attempt to pound, stretch and pull our muscles back to their place of birth. That’s after we energetically jockey for the parking space nearest the front door.

Like so many other exercise enthusiasts, we’re concerned about what’s happening to these bodies of ours. We see them sagging, slipping and sliding to our ankles. And it’s not a pretty sight. Even when we can only remember the "after" and not the "before," there’s a strong push to be physically fit. And we should be, even if we have to look at faded black and white photos to remind us of our former selves.

In American society, it seems extremely important to maintain what others see. On the other hand, the Bible says in the first book of Samuel that "man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart." What he sees IN us appears to carry a lot more weight. God is interested in our thoughts and intentions far more than how much we can bench press.

So, maybe we need to get our priorities straight. Instead of worrying so much about the person we’ve become on the outside, it may be better to think more about who we are on the inside. It’s not too late to develop our spiritual features like patience and joy. Or to tone up our faith and love. The best way to do that is to exercise daily by walking with the Lord.

Someday in the future, when we meet him at the final reunion, it would be nice to be in shape.