Family (Outpost)

Eleven Pax, took the Daily Red Pill (DRP) this morning and got better.

The Pax: Big Cheddar (Greensboro), Scrum (Cincinnati), Aruba, Meat sweats, Scout, Chitwood, Rifleman, Schlitz, T-Bone, Bluegrass  (Q Squirrel)

The Scene: Chilly 28 and clear

WarmUp:  Imperial Walkers, Hillbilly’s, Motivators, Good mornings and Windmills

The Thang:    The Pax did a low impact, station-based TABATA Exercise routine today. 50 seconds on, 10 seconds rest.

• Side Plank – you pick the side, switch for round 2                                
• Merkin (Kneeling if you need to)
• Wall Sit Coupon Curls
• Coupon 1-Legged good morning….or two legs
• Single Leg Homer to Marge   
• Wall Sit Coupon Press
• Elbow Plank       
• Coupon swing
• Wall sit pass the coupons

Between Round 1 & 2 Pax took a loop around the AO

Cirque du Soleil Abs

Announcements/Prayer requests:

1. Thanks to Scrum and Big Cheddar who joined us today.  Always nice to have folks from out of town visit
2. Prayers for the Palmetto runners who embark on their race this Friday

Chitwood led us out in prayer.

MOLESKINE:  Family….

When I moved to Pinehurst in 2015, I not only said goodbye to my job, the DC area, the house our son lived in, but also my church. 

Loneliness crept in during those first months in Pinehurst. I longed for the camaraderie and comfort that comes from sharing daily life with those who know you well…and love you anyway.

We had friends in our old church, and still do, so it made sense to find connection through a church.  Forging relationships anywhere is often awkward…getting past the coffee and donut small talk.  Developing familial bonds takes intentionality and effort.  Church is where I was introduced to F3 as well.

I’ve talked about family before, although I referred to it as “tribe.”   We, as humans, long for connection to others.  We want this connection so badly we sometimes look for it in crazy, messy, f-’d up people.  We all live messy lives, with messy relationships.  

I’ve been welcomed again and again at my church and F3 not because of how good I was but because of how real I was.  In F3 Sandhills we create a place of belonging through doing hard things together, trying / failing /succeeding together, celebrating together and eating together.  

Together.  Often.  Even when you don’t want to.  

It’s too easy to hide who you are or aren’t if you come once a week to a workout.  But there is no escape from observation by others if you keep showing up.  You wind up living out your beliefs in front of each other and demonstrate your values and your gradually transforming characters by what you do and don’t do. Men who do life together see the reality of each other in the heights and depths of life and in the humdrum daily ins and outs. Psalm 139 reflects how important little daily habits and actions are.

It’s important to have family, a tribe, a church whatever you want to call it. My ex-wife didn’t have one.  Sure, she had a mom and sister and extended family but she didn’t have a family she did everyday life with.  Sad.  When she passed away the “family” asked my M and I if we could talk to our old church to have the service there.  

When we left Maryland we just left.  No hugs, no letters, no breaking bread.  So when I went back to our old church to ask if they would perform a funeral service for my ex-wife I wasn’t sure of the response I’d get.  She was a non practicing Catholic and hadn’t stepped foot in a church in 20+ years.  Our old church’s response?  A resounding yes!  People showed up and served, cleaned up, set up and tore down chairs, and stuck around to help with recording the stories that were told.  Wow.

Yep, we all have the drunk uncle, the gossipy relative, the know-it-all brother in law, the….fill in the blank.  Each of us have a certain amount of crazy in our families.  Thanks for allowing me and my crazy to be a part of your (F3) family.  

Aye!