Solitary Confinement….
Thirteen Pax, took the Daily Red Pill (DRP) this morning and got better.
The Pax: Squirrel, T-Bone, Napalm, MadBum, Scout, Neo, FroYo, Moped, CPT D, Poacher, Chitwood, Witch Doctor, and all the way from Illinois (no S please) Reddick!
The Scene: Coldest morning since February 22nd. A year ago we were nine degrees warmer. Still, a great morning to be out in the Gloom!
The Thang: Redrum Bunny’s – Murder Bunny’s
This is a partner event. As one Pax is doing Murder Bunny’s forward his partner is doing them backwards. So the forward partner has to “steer” his partner in the right direction. Something we should all strive to do…help our mate’s out and steer them clear of bad things and poor decisions.
Part 1 – PAX team performs Redrum – Murder Bunnies with coupons to Shovel Flag (about 50 yards) and perform required exercises
- 20 4-count flutter kicks with coupon overhead
- 20 Alpos with coupon
- 20 4-count Windshield Wipers over coupon
- 20 OH Presses
- 20 WWII Situp with coupon
Pax Flapjack who’s steering whom and make it to the Lion’s Den (Lion’s Club pavilion). At the Lion’s Den repeat the exercises.
Inside the Lion’s Den:
2 rounds: At picnic tables: perform 10 Derkins, 10 Dips, 10 Merkins.
2 rounds: At picnic tables: perform 10 Incline Merkins, 10 Dips, 10 Merkins.
1 round: At picnic tables: perform 10 Right Hand Forward Merkins, 10 Dips, 10 Left Hand Forward Merkins.
Rifle carry the ladies toward the brick pile stopping along the way for some Merkins and Knerkins to finally put ‘em away. Then Mosey back to flag for…
6MoM:
- The 100
- 10 Xs & Os
- 20 WWII Situps
- 30 Freddy Mercury’s In cadence
- 40 Side leg raises (ea side) In cadence
- 30 LBCs In Cadence
Ran out time to finish up the six minutes or Mary and we didn’t even get to the Seal Clap Merkin Ladder!!!
Announcements/Prayer requests: Traveling mercies for all those traveling this Thanksgiving season. Thanksgiving’s a great time to become intentional about collecting blessings, not burdens. Living “with gratitude in your hearts to God.” To “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16-17).
For me, that thanks isn’t just a turkey-filled table, but at an old rugged cross. Where I once again allow myself to be leveled by the love of my Jesus. Who took my hell. So I can spend forever in His heaven.
Chitwood lead us out in prayer.
MOLESKINE: Solitary Confinement…
Isolation. Solitary confinement is a punishment. Belonging is a basic human need that often gets overlooked or downplayed. During these past many, many months of isolation I say there has started to see a breakdown in society.
Now, think about what it can do to a relationship when one or both of you are isolating from others or each other.
There is a lot of talk in F3 about the Mental Battle. Maybe not so much here in the Sandhills but on the Nation’s podcasts and even at events. Why? Because it’s a real thing. As men….really as boys, we were taught to hide our feelings, to do it on our own. Heck, Lone Wolf McQuade was a hero in the 80s. Today I believe that it’s through relationships with other men is where we gain our strength.
Social isolation can look like; spending extended periods of time alone, experiencing anxiety in social settings, having limited or superficial social contact or lacking real personal or professional relationships.
Emotional isolation is a bit different. Mostly it’s when someone is unable or unwilling to share their emotions with others. You know the guy, reluctant to discuss anything but the most superficial matters? The Sad Clown.
I’d put both these, social and emotional isolation in the category of Inmate Isolation (not intimate). Solitary confinement.
That’s why we come out in the Gloom, to beat this beast. We withstand the hot, cold, windy, wet conditions to be in community. As Dredd puts it, “It is our nature as humans to unite into groups. We are driven to it by our internal desire for security and significance, and neither of those impulses can be satisfied on a solo basis. So, we come together with others for our mutual benefit.”
It’s by design that THE Splitter, that dark and fallen angel, wants us alone. He is a disuniter because he knows that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Standing together we can resist him, but isolated and alone we are low-hanging fruit for his demonic purposes.
So, we stand, shoulder-shoulder in the Gloom or in our friends kitchen or anywhere we are needed, to keep it together, to keep us together. Without men banding together the Splitter will prevail no matter how powerful, wealthy, smart, etc. the person may be.
I’m glad to not be isolated. I relish the early morning banter, the smiles, sweat, dirt, cussing…I’m proud to stand beside each one of you men!
Now, let’s look around and see who is missing in our Band of Brothers. Who may be in solitary confinement? Call him. Invite him back into the Gloom.
Aye!