Priorities

People I love deeply

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
- 1 John 4:7-12

I was asked a great question yesterday after teaching day 1 of our Elements class. The Elements class is designed as a 2 week on-ramp class for first time crossfitters to introduce them to the movements performed in a typical crossfit class. Many of the participants are folks who have been sedentary for years (or decades) and have very little, if any, body awareness. Because of this, simple things like getting into the start position for a deadlift, or performing a simple strict press can be very difficult. I get quite a few deer in the headlights looks throughout the duration of the 2 weeks. They always end up doing fine though, and after a few weeks of elements and then regular crossfit classes, they are not only moving more efficiently, but more confidently.

The question I was asked by one of our interns was a profound one- "what is your overarching goal of the elements class?" I loved it. My mind started racing- proper mechanics, learning to push oneself, appropriate scaling... these are all good things, and goals for sure. But as I sifted through the question more, another more important goal rose above all others- to Love.

Coming into a crossfit class for the first few times can be intimidating. There are a bunch of athletic, in shape people with their shirts off going crazy slamming bars and throwing weight around, doing these crazy looking pull ups, willingly torturing themselves. For many first timers, the thought racing through their mind is "there is no way I will ever be able to do that." This thought is a lie, and couldn't be further from the truth. My highest priority of the elements class (and any class for that matter), even above good form, is the security of knowing that any time they walk through those doors, they will be loved deeply. They need to know that they are cared about as a person before they are cared about as an athlete, and that their souls are valued above their bodies. They may not squat perfectly- that is okay. They will learn, they will grow, they will develop. I am more concerned about their confidence level- something that can be bolstered by knowing that they have a coach that loves them deeply. If they know they are loved, they will continue to show up, and therefore continue to develop as an athlete.

As followers of Christ, we are called to love the world around us. Whether you are an auditor, a car salesman, a CEO, or a janitor, the call is the same- "take up your cross and follow me" (Matt 16:24). What we see in Jesus as he took up is his cross is an outpouring of Love for man. As we follow him, we are to do the same. Love your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your boss, your customers, your waiter, your neighbor, your athletes. Love. It's such a simple calling, but one we overlook.

Blessings