The thing about working out at a 24-hour gym during the 3 a.m. – 5 a.m. span is that it’s pretty peaceful. Although I have walked in to find homeless individuals seeking warmth from the cold, most of the time I am either the first one to arrive or I might be joining 1-2 other early morning regulars. As my workout goes on, a few more people circulate in.

Today something out of the ordinary happened.

When I walked in there was someone I had never seen before. On the treadmill was an older gentleman trying to get in some early morning cardio. Although I did take notice of the new individual, I simply walked past him and went over to the dumbbells to begin my workout. About five minutes later, the guy stopped the treadmill and exited the gym.

This picture of the Snap Fitness (Ponderosa Village) that I exercise at gives you an idea of where the gentleman was at and where I was at. He was on one of the middle treadmills while I was at the dumbbell station in front of the mirror.

I knew the guy left because I could see him exit out of my periphery and I heard the door shut. As I continued to work with the weights, I noticed no headlights flashed or engine turned after the man had left (I usually subconsciously take notes of gym-goers pulling out in their vehicles upon exit).

Well, two minutes after his initial departure, I knew why I didn’t register any evidence of him leaving the parking lot.

The unmistakable click of the entrance door opening upon an access card tap forced my periphery back to the front of the gym. The guy was walking back in.

Still keeping tabs on the figure walking slowly toward me from the corner of my eye, I ended up turning to face him once he got about 10 feet from me.

I waited for him to talk.

Nervous and jumbled, he asked me the following question: Are you feeling strong negative emotional thoughts?

I was caught off guard for a moment. The question from the bald, bespectacled man was seemingly out of left field. In the heat of the moment, I determined that he was asking me if I was prone to self-harm.

Maybe just five seconds after he asked the question, I gave him an answer:

“No. Because of my faith in Jesus Christ I have been protected from that.”

Although my response probably wasn’t eloquent, it was firm and I felt totally confident saying it. The man seemed a little take aback as he registered what I said. After about 10 seconds he said, “Oh, okay, good.”

I did follow with why he asked me that question. He said something along the lines of “I just felt like I needed to come ask you.” He then turned around and walked away.

As he left, I said the following words with complete sincerity to him:

“Thanks for asking.”

I am still a little puzzled and uneased about why he asked me such a seemingly strange question. It is true, I carry an all-business type demeanor at the gym, so perhaps my focus was translated as a cry for help? Or maybe he was trying to evangelize to me and was looking for an opening. I am at a loss.

My plan is to speak with him again if we have a re-encounter. Perhaps I should just leave it be but maybe his question about my mental state was really a referendum on his own mental state. Or perhaps he is just a genuine guy who cares about others. In that case, I should probably be his friend.

As I did when I took my turn on the treadmill later that morning and as I will do again tonight, I will be praying for him. Don’t Blink.