What are the elements of an effective Q? Some ideas YHC has observed over the last year or so:

• Creatively finding new exercises or novel ways to mix up the old standards
• Continuous movement to get (and keep) the heart rate up, especially running or sprints
• Coupons that mix up the body-weight exercises with other weight-based resistance (plus, c’mon, it just feels more manly to be lifting something heavy)
• Challenging PAX to stretch beyond comfort zones and overcome mental resistance
• Competition (albeit friendly) to keep the PAX honest and add a little pressure

PAX also seem to enjoy mumble chatter and planning a Q so that PAX can complete all the exercises (vs. feeling like they left something undone). YHC rarely meets all these elements, but it’s worth reflecting every now and then on what constitutes a good use of 45 minutes any given morning when men gather in the gloom. This past Thursday, 11 PAX came to the Bullpen, ready to experience some combination of the above.

WARM-O-RAMA

• SSH x 20
• LBACs x 10 x reverse
• Windmills x 10
• WMB x 10
• 5 Burpess OYO

Number off 1-2, 1-2. Evens snag bricks. Odds grab cinder blocks.

THE THANG

Mosey to the parking lot across from Rise where we complete a tour of “The B.U.L.L.P.E.N. Circuit,” dropping off coupons during a quick loop of the two islands:

• Burpees x 6 (top of island 1)
• Upright Rows w/25 lbs or cinder blocks x 12 (top of island 2)
• Lunge and Lateral Raises with 5 lbs or bricks x 18 (middle of island 2)
• Plank Jacks x 24 (bottom of island 2)
• Elf on the Shelf with cinder blocks or bricks x 18 (9 each side) (bottom of island 1)
• Nolan Ryans with bricks x 12 (6 each arm) (middle of island 1)

Team of Odds runs the circuit clockwise. Team of Evens runs the circuit counter-clockwise. Each complete circuit is 1 point per man. Count ’em up at end and see who wins fame and glory. 

*** In the end, the Odds had it by a hair (YHC’s memory is hazy, but the final score was something like 23.5 to 24.5). Even’s consequence was carrying the cinder blocks back to ReCity. ***

MARY

• Clock ran out

ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRAYER

• Praying for Bluth’s niece, having some health concerns.
• Lifted up Darth Visor, his family, friends and the PAX of Alpharetta

COT

We don’t like to think about death. It’s considered morbid or taboo. But remembering that we’re all living the terminal consequences of sin and that we know not the day or the hour, it’s sobering to see a healthy, relatively young man meet his demise far too soon. It gives us an opportunity to reflect and ask the tough questions:

• Am I being all of the man God wants me to be?
• Am I love the people in my sphere of influence well?
• Am I making the most of this one, short shot we got at life?

In fact, this reflection on death can be an enormous gift as it generates a sense of urgency for change and growth, and helps us resist that dangerous urge to coast. To conclude, consider the words of another man who had an extraordinary impact with his time on earth…and who left too early as well.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” – Steve Jobs

Savor the moments that matter. Surrender everything else.