Let me (Sam) start by saying, I don’t have a green thumb. What this means is, you should not leave a plant in my care, because only by the grace of God will it survive. The only plant I am confident I can keep alive is a weed. It’s the whole sun to water ratio I seem to struggle with. With that said, here is one basic thing I know about gardening; the soil must be fertile before you plant the seed. The ground must be prepped, tilled, watered and prepared to cultivate the growth of a seed.
That, my friends, is culture. Culture is what actively fosters growth. It is the all encompassing characterics of a group. Culture is the ground work, the foundation. The cornerstone, to say.
I took a poll among our members and asked them how they would describe the culture of 413 and overwhelmingly the responses had a very fluid commonality. 413 is a community that encourages, spurs, pushes one another to be the absolute best physically, mentally and emotionally.
The culture, the groundwork, has been laid. We have one very cohesive message; to build stronger disciples. We know we are better in community and for this we continue to cultivate a positive, nurturing and judgement free environment for those who are wanting to be their very best. We want everyone to walk in feeling a little outside their comfort zone, do the thing they believe to be impossible and leave knowing they achieved 1% better.
And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, ‘Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.’
Matthew 13:3-7
And then Jesus speaks of the power of being planted in an environment primed to cultivate growth…
‘And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.‘
Matthew 13:8
Everyone has ups and downs in their fitness journey. It is not easy but it is worth it. Choose carefully who you surround yourself with. Be wise in the counsel you seek; say no to the trends, fad diets and anyone just looking to make a dime off you. Ensure you have encouragement in place before this journey gets hard, because I promise you it will. Success is not overnight, it isn’t linear and often the end is ever changing. Whether it is 413, or another facility, find a tribe that claps louder for you, than you do when you succeed. If you’re ready to take your next steps, let’s chat!
To all of our members currently reading this: thank YOU.
Thank you for creating a culture of inclusivity and a place where others can be surrounded with other like minded athletes. Thank you for cheering loud, for fist bumps, for friendly competition, and for accountability. Thank you for making 413 a place where everyone feels at home. Thank you for praying big, and working hard.