You are free
She crossed the rubber floor dusted in chalk with a confidence few her age could dream of. Her generous brown eyes caught mine as if to betray her youth by saying, “I’m too young to be feeling this old.”
Not even out of high school and yet she sat beside me like it was just part of the routine. As if a connection that had existed for centuries somehow was realized in seconds. She had a story…we all have a story.
I could tell by her gaze she required answers. The connection was made because I continue to have the same look of disbelief perpetually fixed upon my demeanor. Now she had it. She rested, unbroken by life, still majestic in her ability to forgo judgment in favor of hope in man-kind. She sat peering at me for advice. Without saying a word she asked, “will it always be this way?”
“Did you hear what happened to me at school”, our CrossFit teen says to me after we all WOD together as family. “Yes”, I said.
“Today my teacher singled me out in class because of my beliefs. She said the Paleo diet isn’t healthy and that in the long term, myself, my Mom and everyone else following diets like it, will eventually die of a heart attack”, our CrossFit teen said.
“My teacher even attacked you and others like you”. She said “trainers aren’t Doctors and we shouldn’t listen to them about matters of health.”
“What did you say”, I asked as I began to notice how tired her eyes were. Clearly she had revisited this story many times. Clearly she wasn’t looking to tell me what she said. She was asking, “what should I have said”?
Years ago I would have been infuriated. Not only was someone I care for being outwardly attacked for her opinion, but so was the life I love, and the truth I hold so dear. Years ago I would have replied to our CrossFit teen, “When is your next class”. That was years ago.
While looking into those youthful eyes yet to be trivialized by boring adult banter and meaningless relationships I said, “This is just the beginning”.
“Your life will always be harder if you chose to be on the side of truth, but living, to you, will always be worth it. Much more so than people like your teacher will ever know”, I said.
This is what our youth have to look forward to. A war between those who practice the truth, and those who are voluntarily inoculated by the lies.
We must do everything we can to properly prepare our young ones for this, we must never shelter them form it. Nor should we defend them against it. It is their willingness to fight that will make them great. Its our lack of belief in their ability that will make them weak.
I could tell our young CrossFitter, and even the elders backing her wanted me to be angry. They wanted a brave-heart Esq-kinda speech preparing the troops for victory. But war never changes anyone, and nor will we if every-time someone disagrees with our way we argue instead of educate.
“Aren’t you angry”, someone asked. “No” I said. “You can’t hate them for believing the lies, you can only teach them the truth by example.”
In fact, not only should we avoid anger, we should employ sympathy. Outsiders to our way are living in state of perpetual darkness. We are the light. Even if we are just passing by.
Make no mistake I am in no way saying we should not vehemently defend our path, as it is right, just, and glorious. I am saying as we walk, some will always try to keep us back. We need never conform to them. Nor do we need to give them audience. We simply show them the truth, then we continue about our way enlisting followers in every town, city and state across the country. If we turn every corner to argue every naysayer we will miss the majority by debating the minority.
The hardest lesson I am learning more and more everyday is that fighting is more walking away to teach others willing to learn, than it is arguing with those unwilling to listen.
Leaders throughout history were able to impact the world by the millions because they did not waste their time on negative haters who want nothing more than partnership in hell.
Those willing to change the world are those willing to speak the truth when it is not fun popular or acceptable. They are those willing to cut their loses and continue no matter how alone they may feel.
I applauded our CrossFit teen for standing her ground, and I urged her to continue no matter the cost. Take pride in your ability to move on everyday looking to find the lost, and take pity in those you leave behind simply because they aren’t ready to be found.
To my CrossFit youth, and all other youths like her; you are surrounded by adults trying to accomplish little more than a comfortable death. The greatest gift I can give you is the knowledge that you don’t have to be anything like them. You are free.
Strength:
Power Clean & Jerk
2+1 AHAP
*Every (30) seconds, perform (2) power cleans followed by (1) Jerk.
10 Minutes
For Time:
7-Toe to Bar + 7-Pull-ups
15-Barbell Jump squats 45/65
4 Rounds
Post impressions and time to comments.
Josh, I love your reaction! When I first heard the story all I could think about is that this person is ignorant. Ignorant to what the right thing is! We need to educate not alienate! I am proud that you showed our young crossfitter the RIGHT way to handle people like this! One by one people will learn. I am sorry this happened to our young crossfitter but all of these life lessons make us better and stronger people. I personally love her dearly and think she is a strong person both mentally and physically! She will figure a way to educate those around her and she will help others become the best they can be. Teaching by example is what we do!
Thank you Josh, I thank Crossfit for truly making me a better person. And you are very right, this is only the beginning. But all that matters is that I know that there will always be people in that gym to back me up. Certain people do not realize the love I have for my trainers and how important the Crossfit lifestyle is to me. All I can do is recruit people that are open and have trust in me. Ignorance won’t hold me back, or the people who want to live a fulfiled life back.
See everyone at 5am!
You go girl. It was great seeing thou this morning. Keep doing what you’re doing because you rock it!
I’m proud of the leadership exhibited through this post! I heard in a sermon once, it’s easier to make a point than it is to make a difference. We (our community) should keep striving to make that difference! Take heart “young crossfitter”. Proud to have you as a living example in our schools.
Another thing I would like to add is…
“Arguing with a fool, only prooves that there are 2.”
Well, this is very noble of you all, but I AM angry!! Pissed is a better description of how I felt when I first saw this on Facebook. What I do about it outwardly is a different thing – i.e., I would not yell at somebody to try to get my point across (although a few years back I probably would have), since it won’t do any good in front of ignorant people. I am totally in the camp of leading by example. But doesn’t change the fact that I’m p.o.ed…
6:18
8:04
8:32… first time doing butterfly kipping pull-ups!!!
7:32 (m)
5:21
5:04
9:00
9:34
Thanks for the post Josh. This makes me think how I would handle this one day when Luka comes home with a situation like this. Instead of getting fired up and pissed I’ll remember this post….then have her spit in her teacher’s lunch when she’s not looking…HOW’S THAT FOR PALEO TEACH?!! HAHA!
6:46
6:55
8:44(m) – red band p.u.
185# pcj
6:18
Congrats on as RXD WOD Presley. The first of many to come. You should challenge your teacher to a friendly pullup contest my money is on you girl!
6:27
4:10
8:50
6:24(m)
173# C&Js
9:26 (m) for coming off the bar and not doing the TTB and PUs unbroken the last 3 rounds…
4:33
Doug 3:52
Cindy Lou 9:47 (M)
Loved the Clean & Jerks…did 95lbs but sadly Im gonna have to say I could have done way more….
As for the post, you know I love it. Watching my daughter become a young woman right before you is quite amazing…Im proud of her. At the end of the day the teacher should have come to me, the adult if she were so concerned with what I am feeding my child (entire family). Presley is strong but to feel singled out in that setting was unfair to her…
And a big shout to Miss Presley for her first RXed WOD!!!!
5:25