What’s the weekly mettle maker? Training tips and educational information in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? According the American Heritage Dictionary, mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”
Mettle Maker #333
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Fitness — Give the exercises in the video on the right a try. Three sets is all you need if you aim for perfect form. Do Pull-ups (max 3 x 8), Dragon Flags (max 3 x 8), and Stone Lifts (max of 3 x 3). If you don’t have stones (who does besides me?!?) substitute sandbag lifts or deadlifts. Don’t go to failure — stop on the rep just prior to technique breakdown. In other words, when you feel like, “I could do a couple more reps, but my technique might not be perfect.” Most injuries happen when form breaks down. Interested in a free fitness distance learning program? Check out our free programs here.
Self-Defense — How’s your Standing Arm Triangle? If you don’t a Standing Arm Triangle, get one. It’s so easy, once you get the knack of it. Start by watching the YouTube short on the right — the one with the horrible thumbnail! — then find yourself a partner and get to work. Interested in a structured self-defense program? Sign up for our free distance learning program.
Wildwood — Are you blind, deaf, and mute? How important is it to pay attention to what you see, hear, and say — not just when you’re in a survival situation, but all the time? Paying attention is the investment, and dividends are more fun and better odds. Examples, you ask? What if rain is coming and and you have little food and water? Well, if you were paying attention earlier in the day when that woodpecker was knocking, or that woodpecker feather was right there on the ground (see picture below), you could go straight to that standing dead tree around which all that great firewood was piled up. Otherwise, you might have to wander all over creation, waste energy, get soaked, etc. etc. Want more? Listen to today’s homily on a related topic (see below). Want even more? Click here to sign up for the free Wildwood nature appreciation and survival distance learning program.
A picture of my son Robert , taken when were standing on the top of Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia. On the right, a feather from a southern yellow-shafted flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus) — a type of woodpecker.
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Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 11th, 2022 – Archdeacon Mitch
Readings: Is 35:1-6a, 10, Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10, Jas 5:7-10, Mt 11:2-11
Matthew 11:2-11 World English Bible Catholic Edition
2 Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,✡ the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.✡ 6 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
7 As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’✡ 11 Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
The blind, deaf, and mute are everywhere. You, or I, may be one of them from time to time or from moment to moment. Blind to the suffering of others. Unable to see a way through the fog of life, deaf to the cries of those who are suffering, unable to make out the pleas for help coming from our loved ones, or from the depths of our own souls for that matter. Unable to speak our minds, incapable of properly expressing our thoughts. Literally or figuratively, we have all been, or are now, blind, deaf, and mute.
Maybe you can’t see past your bills or your health issues. Maybe you can’t see a future beyond your addiction, your physical disability, or your grief. Remember though, Jesus sympathizes. He has been there. How hard was it for him to see past the blood in his eyes that ran down from the crown of thorns on his brow? Pray to him. Ask him, “Lord, how did you bear this kind of misery? Show me the way. Shine a light on my dark path.” He will be there.
Maybe you can’t hear the Word of God over the racket of cell phones, TikTok, social media, pop culture, and fashion. Maybe you’re tone deaf and you don’t even realize it. Pray to Lord. Say, “What are my spouse and children calling out for? Love? Attention? Engagement? What’s my boss or mentor asking of me that I’m not paying attention to? What am I ignoring? Lord, what is your plan for my life?” The Lord will answer. He’s been there. How hard was it to hear over the pounding of the nails into his hands and feet on the cross? And when he answers you, listen. Take action. You might even have a happier family, build stronger friendships, get a raise, or find your true calling!
It's also easy to be mute in this world – hard to bend your knee in prayer sometimes, Hard to be a proper witness of the Gospel, hard to find the right words when topics is awkward. Perhaps you need to have a serious talk with a loved one but, out you’ve been holding your tongue out of fear that one of you will get angry. Do you need to have a talk with your boss, or a difficult employee? Is there a confession you need to make to your guidance counselor, therapist, priest, or to the police? Ask the Lord to be your intermediary. Pray for him to take your hand and fill your mouth with perfect, polite, patient, and measured words.
Remember, the Lord has been there too, standing before Pilate in the crosshairs, under threat of death. He knows. He understands. He will help. And with his help, you will find your voice. You may even sing!