15 Ballroom Boyz gathered for a refreshingly cool morning of moderate dancing. Disclaimer was issued in earnest and the pax lined up for a crisscross applesauce run down to the furtherest lower lot at the bottom of the business park.

Warm-up

Pax circled up for a few words on our theme of the month: Mercy.

– SSH (IC) x20
– IW (IC) x20
– ==> Lunge walk for 10 yards, then mosey half way around lot
– Low-Slow Squats (IC) x20
– Windmills (IC) x20
– ==> Toy soldier for 10 yards, then mosey half way around lot
– Mountain climbers (IC) x20
– Peter Parkers (IC) x20
– ==> Bearcrawl for 10 yards, then mosey half way around lot
– Carolina Dry Docks (IC) x20
– 5 Burpees OYO

Mosey up to middle “flat” parking lot for railroad tracks (about 2 rotations through)

The Thang

Mosey to the parking lot below the COT area (with the double wall). Another quick word on Mercy, and Pax organized themselves into five groups of three for a few rounds of Tripple-Check.

– 1st person doing wall sit
– 2nd person exercise specified for that particular round (see below)
– 3rd person scaling walls, then running to the right, down around the stop sign, and back to his team
– rotation positions until all three pax in each group had done each exercise
– plank up when done with the specific round

We did a total of 5 round, with the “specified exercise” being the following (one for each round)

– LBCs
– Merkins
– Squats
– Flutters
– Calf raises

After all 5 rounds, pax scaled wall one more time and circled up for a little Mary in the COT area.

Seniors choice for ab work:

– LBCs
– SSH
– American hammers

Time’s up. COT.

Naked Man Moleskin
YHC has a special affinity for the Ballroom because of the #HIMs that post there, and because the scaling wall is a real treat. This morning was no exception, and we had the bonus of FNG “Bait Shop” joining us (excellent work!!!). Add in the absolutely perfect weather, and we had a recipe #awesomesauce. It was a privilege leading the workout, and YHC appreciates the opportunity (thanks for scheduling me, ChangeOrder).

During the workout, we discussed the monthly theme of Mercy. For YHC, mercy is a little more difficult to grasp than the other two of the trifecta: justice and grace. Mercy is not giving something when it is deserved (like punishment, retribution, or hell). Mercy is a sense of empathy or pity. But it is something we do, not just something we feel. It is a sense of pity, plus action. Many cultures, including that of the Romans, and that of ours today, see mercy as weakness. I suspect this is due to the competitive, prideful nature of society, which focuses on sports, shocking media, and a worldly definition of “success”. Name 5 great movies about mercy. I can’t.

We as follower of Christ are to have a different perspective of mercy. Greg Laurie said “Sometimes we think people who are quick to condemn are very spiritual. But it is actually quite the opposite. When you truly are a spiritual person, when you truly are a godly man or woman, then you will be a merciful person—not a critical or condemning one.”

In Chicken Hawk’s Mercy theme document, he says something that really stuck with me. “Don’t be mistaken by the reality that the person you are called to have mercy on does not deserve it.” I dare you to really thing about this next time you get in your car and drive somewhere.

As a final thought – The theme-of-the-month concept and document that Chicken Hawk puts together every month is truly a fantastic resource for all Pax. I strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of this. Read it, print it up, discuss it with your wife and/or family, and tape it to the refrigerator. There is no excuse not to. It couldn’t be teed up any better.

Aye!
-old bay