Half birthday #58

Preamble:

Today I celebrated my half-birthday.  It’s mainly memorable because on this day 27 years ago I became a father for the first time.  My son has had more than his share of challenges so on his birthday I try to honor his courage and fight by doing something challenging.

Warm-O-Rama:

Cinders had been requested due to the weather forecast but YHC was pretty sure they would not be used.  Cinders can get lonely so we carried the cinders up to the pavilion and set them down until basically the end of the workout.  Continued our mosey down to the little library where we warmed up and the men were given an intro into the significance of this day for me.

The Thang:

Back to the pavilion where a board of pain awaited.  Partner up with someone you have never partnered with before.  Dora style, P1 does the first exercise until he needs a break while P2 does an ab exercise.  Flap jack until rep count is met.  After each round, run a figure 8 pattern with your partner on the big pitch.

main exercise with (ab exercise)

Round 1 – 100 burpees (flutters)

Round 2 – 200 single count step-ups (hammers)

Round 3 – 300 merkins (j-los)

Round 4 – 400 squats (LBCs)

Round 5 – 500 SSH/OH Claps (v-ups)

The first run was just a run as YHC was sucking wind from all the burpees.

The second run, pax were challenged to talk about something difficult they are facing in their lives

The third run, pax were challenged to talk about a big ‘win’ in their lives.

We never made it to a 4rh or 5th run.

Back to the flag in time for one or two mary exercises

COT:

Kudos given to Einstein who at the age of 12 is out there doing difficult things before the sun comes up.

Prayers for Fanny Pack’s job search.

Naked-Man Moleskin:

We all carry burdens, things we wish we didn’t have to carry but we have them nonetheless.  My son carries a burden that statistically speaking he’ll never NOT have to carry.  But he is not defined by his burdens and we are not defined by our burdens.  We are each wonderfully and uniquely made by our Creator who does not make mistakes.  That’s not to suggest God gives us burdens.  We live in a broken and fallen world and the origin of our burdens can be very complicated, if we can understand the cause at all.

My challenge to the men this morning is to not let our shortcomings, faults, burdens, sins, etc. define us. We are deeper, more complex, more authentic than any burden or sin or fault.  And if we don’t see/feel/think/know that, we have other men around us on a consistent basis who can speak life into us and show us we are more than what we somethings think about ourselves.

I challenge you/us to seek to see people differently.  Consider an alternate story as to why someone is acting a certain way rather than just assuming they are a jerk or whatever.  This will be an ongoing conversation in my life and I welcome any one of you to contact me directly if you would like to talk through ANYTHING.  678-777-5402

–Speedo out