It has been 7 months since being accepted on the world race and training camp is now behind me. It was such an adventure getting to know the men and women on my team! They are amazing! I have never felt closer to a group of people I met a little over a week ago!
At training camp we learned the key to success on our squad and individual teams is vulnerability. This is something I struggle with if I do not trust the person or people I am being vulnerable with. This squad showed me that I can be vulnerable. I can be weak and they will carry me when I cant walk. They will stand when I can’t.
I didn’t plan on going into training camp trusting many people with the secrets that I held onto. That all changed 3 days before training camp on the men’s hike up the Appalachian Trail. The men all got together 3 days before camp to bond on this hike. Once again, I didn’t think much would change for me. It was just another hike, what could be different? That’s until I realized I wasn’t hiking with a group of normal guys.
It all started when one of my fellow brothers was struggling getting up the trail. A few of us stayed behind to encourage him and try to get him to let us take some of his stuff. Being like most men though, he wanted to do it on his own. We all understood that. As time went on he was able to start giving us stuff from his pack so he could make it up the trail. All the men from D squad were more than willing to take anything off his shoulders to help him make this 19 mile hike. Awhile later he stopped and wanted to say something to the men of D squad. He was the first guy on our squad to become vulnerable. To share stories of his past that have scarred him. He is the reason the men of D squad were able to start trusting each other. It took this man so much courage to stand there and tell 10 other guys his insecurities. Courage I for one didn’t have at that time.
We all may have physically carried this guys pack, but he showed us as brothers we need to also carry each others metaphorical packs we have on our shoulders. He showed us that as men its ok to be vulnerable. Vulnerability does not show weakness but strength. Strength to share our struggles with one another, strength to bear each others burdens.
This man has already taken a load of my shoulders. He has already helped me carry burdens. He has spoken truth into my insecurities. He has spoken truth into my fears. He has loved me through some things I have already said to his face that weren’t true. He has shown every man on my squad what it looks like to be a real leader and where real strength comes from. I am sure I speak for every man on this team when I say we are so Thankful to have a man of God like Andrew on our team.
