What makes us Uncommon?

Date	Weight	Fat %	BMI
11/10/15	200.2 lbs	35.30%	30.6
11/17/15	201.6 lbs	33.30%	30.9
11/25/15	199.8 lbs	32.70%	30.5
12/1/15	202.4 lbs	33.30%	31.0

What makes something uncommon?

I went back to the box after being gone for 6 weeks. Six weeks of busy days, exhausting schedules, sinus infections, traveling and holidays. Six weeks of excuses. Six weeks to have my mind twist lies about my life which led me to a path of nearly paralyzing fear. Despite all that I had proclaimed about my love of crossfit and my goals for the future, the fear had me tangled up inside to the point that I truly though I was going to vomit on the drive across town. 

But I am not alone in this struggle against the inner voices and anxious thoughts.

It was fear that made Adam and Eve hide in the garden, voluntarily separating themselves from God.

It was fear that caused Abraham to take Haggar and refuse to wait on God's timing for the promised heir.

It was fear that caused the Israelites to walk around in the desert instead of entering the promise land that God had given them.

It was fear that made Saul sacrifice on his own instead of obeying Samuel's instructions. 

Fear drove Jonah into the belly of a great fish and fear led Peter to deny Jesus 3 times on the night of His arrest.

Fear tells us lies, amplifies our emotions and leads us away from what we know to be true. 

Our very nature seems to embrace fear as if it were our friend - good ol' fear will keep us safe. Fear will keep us venturing too far out into the unknown. Fear will keep us from being honest with ourselves and with others and can keep us from getting hurt. Fear will reassure us that we can't win, shouldn't try and never will succeed. Fear keeps our world small and makes it smaller with each passing day, as we learn new things to avoid, people to never trust again, cataloguing hurts and slights along the way. Fear will always keep us company. And we will eventually be alone.

But God tells us again and again not to be afraid, as He compassionately acknowledges our fragile emotional state and tries to remind us of the truth. God calls us out in faith, calls us into community, tells us to rely on His strength and desires to supply us with His grace. 

Crossfit Uncommon is uncommon because it is a group of people together facing their fears and pushing past them. It is a community that looks to build one another up and cheer each other on - celebrating every small victory over fear. It is a place where fear is acknowledged but holds no power over what we will do - what we will try - where we will go - what we can accomplish. 

Fear has no power in an Uncommon Nation.

Those numbers at the top scare me....until I notice one thing true. Those dates are all in the past. Those numbers are what were. Those figures are true about what was but have no bearing on what will be. And there is no reason to fear what the future will hold....