Progress

It's funny how growth happens. You rarely see it, and almost never feel it, but it happens. There has never been a day of my life that I have woken up and felt taller, but that doesn't mean I haven't grown. Strength is the same way. It is a slow, meticulous process that takes months and years to cultivate. I remember one day last fall trying to clean and jerk 100 kilos. I tried 8 times before finally hitting it on my 9th attempt. Today, this weight is a warm up set. This could be said for almost all of my lifts. I didn't just wake up one day and magically lift 40 more pounds- it took lots of grinding, sweat, and frustration, but over time my body adapted and I can now lift heavier weights.

Here is a look at my PRs over the last year. Watch how the steadily grew.

Snatch

173# 9/27/12

177# 10/18/12

188# 11/29/12

208# 1/20/13

220# 3/17/13

Clean Jerk

221# 10/3/12

226# 11/5/12

231# 1/14/13

241# 1/22/13

265# 3/17/13

Hi hang snatch

198# 4/1/13

205# 5/3/13

210# 5/7/13

215# 6/3/13

Block Clean

245# 5/2/13

255# 5/6/13

257# 5/9/13

275# 6/13/13

Back squat

309# 1/17/13

385# 3/15/13

Power Clean

251# 10/2/12

261# 12/12/12
275# 4/15/13

                      

Front squat

241#x2 10/3/12

245# 10/26/12

225#x5 12/01/12

265# 1/16/13

305# 6/10/13

Jerk

226# 11/5/12

251# 12/4/12

265# 3/17/13

270# 5/2/13

We live in a culture in that promotes instant gratification, and we rarely have to wait for anything. Want a warm meal? Two minutes in a drive through line will get you one. Want to know whats going on in the world? One press of a button and you are watching CNN. Heck, we even get frustrated when it takes our iPhones 5 seconds to upload a page. So it is no surprise that most people don't have the patience or determination to stick with a program and get stronger. It takes to long! "You mean I can't get as strong as that guy in a month? Well then I quit!" This seems to be many peoples attitude. It should be noted that spiritual growth is the same way.

I often find myself comparing myself to spiritual oaks such as the apostle Paul or John, or guys like Matt Chandler. I beat myself down because I am not as "holy" as them (whatever that means). What I fail to realize though is that their level of spiritual maturity is something that was not achieved overnight. It took years of waking up and hitting their knees in prayer, of spending time with the Lord, of going through valleys and mountain tops. This thought hit me as I was looking through my study bible. The apostle Peter started following Christ in around A.D. 30- he wrote 1 Peter in about A.D 63 and 2 Peter in A.D. 67. Thats 37 years! I haven't even been alive that long! The apostle John became a follower of Christ in around A.D. 30, and did not write his Revelation until A.D. 96! 66 years of service to the Lord. A lifetime pursuing him, yearning to know him better and more fully. It's no wonder I look like a total scrub when standing next to them! Yet Christ loves me just as fully as he loved them.

Growth, whether in the gym, in life, or with the Lord, is something that requires perseverance and dedication. Don't get frustrated when it doesn't all happen at once. Commit to growing a little bit every day, and years from now you will have accumulated years worth of growth.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither will you be.

Blessings