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    Showing posts with label Durham. Show all posts

    CrossFit

    5/30/12

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    Grace and Peace Friends,
    Over a year ago, I was attending an event alongside this gym in Durham. As I watched this group of people rowing together and then running together, it completely intrigued me. I decided to look into it and it turned out to be CrossFit Durham. 

    CrossFit has three pillars to its exercise philosophy. One is “ fully functional.” The exercises that we do in CrossFit, mimic functional movement from squatting to running to even the dreaded burpees. Two is “high intensity.” It is better to be intense for a shorter period of time then to go for a long time with less intensity. Three is “constantly varied.” The element of change keeps your body (and mind) engaged.  So, I started their CrossFit Boot Camp and I have since learned many things about their program and about myself.

    The first day of bootcamp I woke up at 4am, absolutely nervous. I felt like I was in elementary school gym class again and all those fears of mockery, rejection, and inability resurfaced. But one of my life’s cry has been “Lord, let me experience that which I fear so that it will not have a hold on me.” Golly, this life of faith is just not always easy! 

    That first day… I thought I would die. But I knew I had to conquer my fear so I have kept up with it for over a year now and it’s become a part of my lifestyle. One of the first benefits was the I was able to make a complete recover from having my Achilles tendon surgery. Two, besides feeling better, there are several things that I have learned along the way.

    One: there’s a difference between being fast and strong. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I am one of the slowest people in the class. Every session I have to fight the feeling of inadequacies because of my slowness. However the other day I realized I had other qualities. We were doing 10 rounds of 10 kettle bell swings and 100 meter run. My kettle bell swings are with 35 lbs. and our coach told me I could increase the weight. Though most of my classmates sped through the exercise, I was carrying more kettle bell weight that they were. The reality is, I don’t need to compare. We all have our individual strengths and the goal is fitness, not beating others. We all have different assets and I may not be good at the most obvious one but it doesn’t negate the other areas that I am strong. I can celebrate my successes even if they are different from most everyone else.

    Two:  we had a work-out that we were warned before-hand was mostly about mental toughness. The consequence for breaking the exercise was having to do burpees.  I tell you what… I was 100% motivated to not do burpees! So, I applied myself and I got that exercise done within the recommended time without doing ANY burpees. But what was fascinating is that a couple of the top guys in our class completely folded with this exercise. It took them almost double the time and they struggled like no other exercise we did before or since then. I realized that it wasn’t just about not doing burpees that got me through it. I have had to develop mental fortitude to conquer my fears to just show up for this class. Mental strength really is an important aspect of sustainable exercise.

    Three: I love group class! Why? It helps provide a rhythm and pace that does not happen when it’s just me. Others can pull out of us what we cannot always reach within to pull out. But the other day, one of the folks that I feel comfortable around in the class was absent. And in the spot where those people normally do their exercises, the top dog in our class decided to make his station for the day. Can I tell you, it kind of flipped me out and those feelings of inadequacy swelled up. We were doing a repeat work out to see our improvement, and I shaved a 1 minute and half off of the routine! Why? Was I that more fit in a month? Maybe a little. But I think it had to do with proximity. Instead of gauging my pace with those I feel comfortable with, I was gauging with someone light years ahead and it pulled something extra out of me. It made me think: am I willing to go outside of my comfort zone in other areas of my life to walk with those that are farther ahead than I am? What might happen if I did that?

    Four: I count even if I am not the best. The first few bootcamps I did on my own and I showed up at 7:18am every time. Then Ashley, our coach, from her heart said, “Wendy, the class starts at 7:15.” Instantly she apologized but I was so grateful for that kind rebuke. Why?  I could tell it was out of love/care and it was the first time that I realized that I mattered and that I really was part of the class. So many times I walk into a room and hope to be invisible and embrace that underlying belief that I don’t count or matter. But I realized in that moment, that even in small ways, I do impact others. I have been more on time since that day than ever before in my life.

    Five: I need community. The first few boot camps I attended as I mentioned, I was late. The mental battles that went on from 6:07am to 6:53am were constant and not always won. But then two things happened. First, my sister, Jessica joined me at the early morning classes. Second,  I received the gift of Nana, who is now my foster daughter. Jessica calls me every morning to make sure I am awake and Nana needs to catch her bus just after 7am which gets me to class at 7:12 every time. Without that relational net, I would still be showing up at 7:18am. I am grateful.

    Six: it’s okay to modify. My tendencies are to be an all or nothing type of gal. But in our routines, there are some things that I just truly physically struggle with doing. But instead of condemning myself and not participating, Ashley will modify the routine for me. And let me tell you, I still get a big work out. My victories come even in the process.

    Seven: It’s important to have a great coach. Ashley has been the coach for all the bootcamps. Everyone knows my name because of the frequency with which it is called. However I am grateful because she is committed to proper form. She wants the best for us which means she is committed to sharing what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. Additionally, she has been the one that keeps calling me to another level of strength. She has a perspective of experience that has helped me to do things I didn’t know or think I could do.

    This experience has been great for me as I normally do not pursue that which I am inadequate in however I knew I needed a strong exercise routine so it was worth the pain to conquer this area of my life.

    There are so many lessons that can apply to different spheres in my life. I am grateful for CrossFit. 

    Wendy

    Real Change: Hope Through Prayer

    5/16/11

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    In my community, there's been seasons where some of the neighborhood children have enjoyed playing in my yard.  One summer I asked one of the little girls, who was 9 at the time, about her dream for when she grows up.  Her upbeat, immediate response was “I want to be a prostitute!”.



    I hate pain, and I hate the hopelessness that had already engulfed this little girl and her future at such a young age. 

I hate passing by the homeless person pleading for money or the street woman begging for a john. I am so sad from hearing story after story of broken dreams and broken marriages- stories of defeat. My
own heart cries out in despair for these souls- there has got to be more!

    Proverbs 13:12 states that "a hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life". "Hope deferred" is the deep and pervasive ailment in our community.  Hope deferred-turned to hopelessness- churns throughout our society like the unending crash of ocean waves constantly hitting the shore.  Despite giving away all the food, clothing, and X-Boxes we could ever imagine to those in "need" , if we don’t address the core issue- hope deferred- we won’t see lasting change.



    Have you ever pondered what makes Christians different than the world? God’s principles work for everyone who chooses to live by them- both those who believe in Him as well as those who don't.  What then would distinguish Christians, or those who have Christ dwelling in their hearts?

The difference is His presence. True hope can only come from Him and it is the knowledge of His presence that gives meaning to life itself.

Knowing His presence and wanting to see restored hope throughout my community is why I have chosen to invest my time, talent and treasure into PrayDurham, which is an initiative to see every street in Durham covered in prayer by believers.

    Some may remember the old hymn:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace."

My neighbors need to know God's love and hope.  They need to know that God wants to bless us.

We, too, with both our prayers and action, get to take part in blessing our neighbors. Sometimes it is as simple as praying "Lord, bless them."

God himself gives us wisdom in how to bless others. 

    Once I asked the Lord how I could justify "blessing" the neighbors of my former office building, a men's club.  I then understood the Lord speaking to my thoughts, "Wendy, you do not understand my love.  I discipline those I love.  That club needs more of Me, not less."

Throughout the Bible and still today, God answers prayer.  What would it look like if every person in Durham was prayed for? What would it look like if every person was pastored (cared for and encouraged in their spiritual growth) regardless of whether they attended a local congregation?  What would it look like if "hope deferred" became real hope...fulfilled? I want to know.



    We have many good programs and ministries that are meeting needs and important to support.  The Lord, however, is able to do so much more than we can in our own efforts, and mysteriously he invites us to become a part of his work through prayer.  Durham is a city full of great people and ideas with lots of innovation- how much more glorious will it be when the Lord heals hope in our community? I look forward to that day!

    Unfolding the Kingdom in Durham

    3/9/11

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    Grace and Peace Friends,
    The Butterfly Unfolds
    God is moving in Durham! Have you ever watched a butterfly unfold its way out of a chrysalis? This is what I see happening all over Durham: God’s Kingdom unfolding and spreading its wings all over our city. I see believers connecting with each other and finding that they share a common vision for becoming the Body of Jesus. I see ministries partnering together to accomplish what no one group could accomplish alone.  
    For instance, John Blake, Durham’s CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) executive director,  hosts a quarterly gathering of individuals, ministries and non-profits all of whom have a passion to serve Durham’s under-resourced communities. However, they have not walked together to combine their efforts until this point. Now there is a more coordinated effort to bring real change in the lives of people in these communities.  
    World Relief is an international faith-based non-profit who helps refugees resettle from oppressed regions around the world. The Durham office has helped resettle 200 refugees in Durham last year alone. Jesus’ Body in Durham has been His hands and feet for people who have never heard the Gospel, but now live within a 5-mile radius of our homes. 
    There are many unsung heroes just like this in our community who are advancing God’s Kingdom in all aspects of our city. They are praying for and serving in our schools and are seeing real change. They are praying for their neighbors. They are organizing people to serve in many projects throughout the city. They are brining God into our city and He is making the difference!
    From my place in the city, I have been hearing stories like these for several years now, and my passion is to be a cheerleader for all the unique, down right cool and creative ways that believers are bringing God’ glory to our city. God is moving in Durham! It’s wonderful to watch it unfold!
    Blessings, 
    Wendy