Building a Strong Foundation

I’ve not Q’ed in quite a while, since the end of September according to my records. With the week off, I had circled this morning as my chance to finally post at Mt Hollywood. Nothing against this AO but it doesn’t fit logistically on my daily commute to downtown Charlotte. As I made this plan, I saw the Q was available and Broke was kind enough to grant me the opportunity – I should have checked the weather forecast. This time the weathernerds got it right but it’s hard to miss 90% chance of rain. I did a reconnaissance mission to scout where I might take my PAX, the only question was – how many would there be? I set multiple alarms to ensure I would not be late (thanks Montross) and arrived early (new concept for me). Broke was waiting in his truck and a few headlights followed with Red Ribbon running from his nearby home to give us a total of 5. A quick disclaimer stated the smart ones fartsacked this wonderful opportunity (if I had not committed to the Q – I’d have been there with you – well not literally, but in my own bed – you know what I mean). As a Kotter Q, I stumbled through a cadence that was this:

• Seal Jacks x 10
• Imperial Walkers x 10
• Butt Kicks x 10
• Toy Soldiers x 10
• Jingle Balls x 10 (Merry Christmas)

We did that under the front shelter of Mt. Holly Middle and I asked the PAX to make a run for the bigger and lighted cover of Ida Rankin across the street – the only difficulty was working our way through the puddled parking lot but we arrived and to find the nice bricks Santa had left earlier. I went with what I know best – a timed Tabata workout with a brick in each hand. We performed each exercise x 30 seconds, with 30 second rest after each set and did each set 3x

• Set 1:
  • Straight Arm Jacks
  • V-Ups
  • American Hammer
• Set 2
  • Flutter kicks w/ arms holding bricks over chest
  • Backbreakers (new exercise named by Sargento – too difficult to explain but a core pleaser)
  • Squat with arm raise
• Set 3
  • Merkins
  • Single Line Suicide
  • Moroccan Night Clubs (bricks in hand)

Then we moved to a new set with 2 minutes of exercise followed by 1 minute of rest

• Jump Squats x 20, SSH’s x 30 then Burpees the remainder of the time AMRAP
• WWI x 15, Freddie Mercury x 20 then LBC’s the remainder of the time AMRAP
• (grab your bricks) Hammer Knee R x 20, Hammer Knee L x 20, Scissor Runs
• Leg Raise x 15 (hold bricks with arms extended overhead), Jack Knifes x 20, X Crunch AMRAP

That was a good ending point to head back early and call time. Prayer requests were shared for EZ Rider’s family, Freight’s Grandmother, Tiger’s Dad, then the M’s for Sargento, Broke, and me. Remember the Convergence at GasHouse on 12/28 and the after Christmas Party on 1/4 (check your email).

Moleskin:

Luke 6:48 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

⁴⁸ That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

As 2019 winds down the final steps for the year, maybe you’re like me and take some inventory of the year. I often think of moments and experiences as bricks that build my foundation to provide both mental and physical strength to weather through the storms ahead. Leading into the passage in Luke 6:48, Jesus shares that his words are used to build the foundation, so if we apply that 3rd F and live 3rd, those principles can help us battle through the flux. As for the First F, as untrained amateurs leading through a variety of odd exercises, I believe a strong core is essential. I went with that as a theme, adding the bricks as some resistance and strength building. Having the chance to Q at Mt Hollywood, in addition to earlier Q’s of 2019 at Folsom were a few missing bricks in my foundation that I now have in place. With all the work that has been done by the PAX this year, if we think of our Gastonia Region as a almost 5 year old neighborhood, look at all the great houses we’ve built, but like any house, we can always make updates or improvements, and in the neighborhood, there are vacant lots for FNGs.  As always it was an honor to lead.