Ok so I want to post a quick disclaimer. I love my church. I am very encouraged there and I am a huge fan of the staff, congregation and everything else that happens.  It’s a great place and a whole bunch of my spiritual needs get met there. But, I realized the other day there was another place that actually was doing a really good job encouraging and caring for me so I thought I’d highlight it.

Here’s questions and statements that I’ve heard recently:

It’s really good to see you today.

You have been super consistent I’m proud of you.

I can tell you are getting better. Your work is paying off.

We missed you this week. Everything ok in your life?

Tell me what’s going on with your future and job?

You can do it  just keep trying?

Don’t give up you have come so far.

How’s your family everyone doing ok?

Is there anything I can do that would help you?

I just want to affirm to you that I have seen how you have changed and I’m really impressed.

I’m glad we can push each other to grow.

How are you feeling?

I’m sure you can probably guess that I’m talking about my gym . Just about a year ago I was doing the same old boring workouts at mega gym and I happened to check in at the place on Facebook one day (if you can use your phone at the gym you probably aren’t working out very hard.)  Well a mom from my church messaged me and told me I should check out her sons gym called Crossfit Dallas Central.  They were super generous to me and provided a way for me to get started at “the box” (that’s what crossfitters call their gyms.)

If you want to know more about Crossfit just click this link.  The best way I know how to explain it is that it is a workout committed to full body exercise and creating an athlete that is “functional” in many settings.  So most crossfitters can do most things pretty well. Imagine if you were a firefighter and needed to be in shape to handle a number of different scenarios. That’s what crossfit does. it prepares you to be able to step into most situations and be fit and ready.

It also happens to be one of the most encouraging places that I have ever been.  Each day I go to the gym the coaches and other athletes really encourage me. It’s a community like I’ve never been a part of before. Everyone is progressing and pushing each other to progress.  Just two days ago I was dying in the middle of  a workout and someone I didn’t even know started encouraging me from the middle of their own workout.  The coaches are a big part of the gym and they set the tone for the atmosphere. I told one of the lead coaches a while back that he has the absolute skill set to be a pastor if he wanted.  I don’t even know him super well but he always comes over and talks to me and asks me how my life is and is really stoked when I tell him the great things that are going on. He also recognizes my need to be pushed and he’s more than willing to call me out when I’m not reaching my potential.

I’ve needed this type of community for a long time.  I get a lot of great support, encouragement and care at my church but I wanted a place where I could be more in the lives of people and not just in Christian Church subculture.  I get that at crossfit.  I generally don’t tell people what I do and just have a good time interacting with them. But it often comes up and then we talk about the Church and my role and they often ask me questions about questions that I’m assuming they have no one else to ask.

You can probably guess too that since we are moving this year I’m mourning the loss of this community.  I’ve already started looking for a new box to workout at.  So I guess this is another hint about where we are heading in June.