Fitness, Fellowship, Faith
Fitness, Fellowship, Faith
It was a crisp Sunday morning, just before dawn, when eight men gathered in the church parking lot. The sun hadn’t yet risen, and the cool air hung with anticipation as they exchanged quick hellos and prepared for their weekly fitness challenge—a three-mile run. These men were part of a local group, striving for self-improvement and camaraderie, pushing each other physically and spiritually. Today’s goal: complete the ruck in under 45 minutes.
Leading the pack was U-Haul, a seasoned rucker who was tasked with setting the pace and keeping everyone on track. U/Haul was confident half asleep, maybe a little too confident asleep. He had led plenty of rucks before, but he had never done so with this particular group. The men were a mix of athletic abilities, with some faster than others, and U-Haul’s overconfidence tireness would soon prove to be a problem.
As the clock struck 6 a.m., they took off. The first mile was smooth enough. I-Haul set a brisk pace, and the men followed, although it was clear a few were already struggling to keep up. “We’re good!” U-Haul shouted, glancing at his watch. “Right on target!”
But by the second mile, the gaps in the group started to widen. U-Haul, lost in his own rhythm, didn’t realize that some of the men were falling behind. He wasn’t checking in or adjusting his pace to account for the team. The faster guys surged ahead while the slower ones huffed and puffed, doing their best not to lag too far behind.
By the time they hit the third mile, the group was scattered. U -Haul noticed that they were approaching the 40-minute mark, but they were still a good distance from the finish. He pushed harder, trying to salvage the time, but it was too late. A few of the men at the back were losing steam, and the group was disorganized.
Finally, they crossed the finish line—but not in the time they had hoped for. The clock showed 49 minutes and 30 seconds. They had overshot their goal by 4 and a half minutes, and everyone knew why: poor leadership.
U-Haul, out of breath, took responsibility. “I didn’t adjust. I should’ve been more aware of where everyone was,” he admitted, panting as he glanced at the group. The others nodded in agreement, too winded to speak much, but they appreciated his acknowledgment. Despite missing their goal, they were all in good spirits, bonded by the shared struggle.
After catching their breath, they gathered for a brief prayer of thanks, grateful for the ability to come together and push one another—failures included. They promised to learn from the day’s mistakes and do better next time.
As they parted ways, U-Haul knew he’d lead differently in the future, focusing not just on the goal but on the journey and the men running beside him.
