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I’ve been thinking for a while about the relationship between physical fitness and a biblical worldview.

Coming from a PE teacher, this might sound a bit strange, but I don’t actually think physical fitness is that important. It isn’t unimportant, but I do think we live in a culture that places far too much emphasis on it.

The way I currently think about it is this: everyone is juggling multiple responsibility balls. Balls that come from being a parent, spouse, employee, child, church member, friend, etc. And yet you’re still just one person with limited time and energy. Inevitably, some balls get more attention than others.

At times, one may even have to drop so that the others can be cared for properly.

If the physical fitness ball has to drop for a season because you’re pouring yourself into being a better parent, spouse, employee, servant of Christ, or friend, that’s okay. There’s no reason to feel shame about that.

That said, the fitness ball shouldn’t stay on the ground forever. But it’s important to remember why physical fitness has value in the first place. 

Fitness is good insofar as it gives you the energy, capacity, and longevity to better fulfill your other callings. When the effort required to keep the fitness ball in the air begins to siphon time, attention, or emotional energy away from weightier responsibilities, it may actually be wiser to let it drop for a time.

The goal isn’t peak performance or physical optimization for its own sake. The goal is faithfulness, using your limited strength in service of what matters most.

I believe sport and game play gives students a safe place to practice responding to failure, fear, frustration, embarrassment, and even loneliness. It also gives them opportunities to adjust to change, handle pressure, and learn to control their emotions in real time.

In that sense, PE isn’t just about physical activity. In a way it's a laboratory where students can test and refine the habits, responses, and character traits that contribute to a well-rounded and resilient life.

All this makes PE and physical fitness worth teaching to me.