The Touch of the Master’s Hand



The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Would you believe me if I told you I use to be a site Q at the 87th worst site in Waxhaw?  This was before it was known as the 87th worst site.  Would you also believe that after leaving Floater 2.5 years ago to start Chiseled, I was never asked back to Q The Floater again (technically I wasn’t asked this time, I volunteered….but lets not get facts get in the way of a good come back story)?

So here I am, rain threatening, lights flickering on the old water tower, and nothing but mashers in the parking lot.  It was quite the scary site.  Then slowly but surely a few started trickling in.  All but the two site Q’s that is.

DiCCs given.  Special mention of crossing Providence Road twice.  Slippery Bridge.  And cars can’t see you, but they especially can’t see you in the rain.  I reminder for gazelles to go back and get the 6.  Announcements first because we thought it was going to pour on us right at 6:15….Posse ran long so I started the mosey and asked him to keep announcing as we went.

 

WARM UP

Mosey down to the vet (circling back for 6).  Circle up for:

  • 10 Diamond Merkins
  • 20 Mountain Climbers
  • 10 Ranger Merkins
  • 20 Mountain Climbers
  • 10 Wide Arm Merkins
  • 20 Mountain Climbers
  • 10 T Merkins
  • 20 Mountain Climbers
  • 10 Hands to the sky Merkins
  • 20 MOuntain Climbers

(For those that skimmed that was 50 merkins and 100 mountain climbers).

Some stretching and we are off.

THE THANG

Across Providence to that long road to Dream Chasers with lights for 25 merkins as each light I’m kidding.  You should have seen the look on Posse’s face.   (That SOB has been needling me the last few workouts so it was time for my revenge – evil laugh).  For real, alternating 10 jump squats and 10 speed skaters (2 is 1) until you get to stop sign.  Pick up 6.

Mosey to bridge and get into teams of 3.    P1: alternate 10 Derkins/Irkins.  P2: Runner/bear crawl.   Crawl bear backwards up bridge incline round 1.  Straight bear crawl flat part of bridge round 2.  Bear Crawl down the bridge decline round 3.   P3: alternate 10 Foot release squats/step ups.    Once relived, run long way around and take over for P1 doing Irkins/Derkins.   It sounds really complicated, and apparently to some pax it was as I found Baio and Chatterbox doing dips at some point???

Once everyone has done three rounds we cross Providence together again and do three different sprints with collector exercises in between until we are at the bottom of Keith Jong Hill.   About 7 minutes left (less time that I expected) so we closed out with suicides up the hill.   Recover for a short walk only to Jail Break back to COT.

MOLE SKIN

  • Great work by everyone.  Thanks for joining me for what was supposed to be a soaking wet workout.  We proved once again that the weather man person is the only job you can be horrible at and still keep your job.
  • Baio and Zinfandel out front early.
  • Leading with 50 merkins seemed to quiet the mumble chatter down.
  • The crawl bears/bear crawls seemed to be a crowd favorite.  I’ve had that in my mind for awhile thinking how awful it would be to have to use gravity against you on that bridge (craw bear up the incline and bear crawl down the decline).  It was nice to see that it was as bad as I had pictured in my head.
  • Ran out of time, had planned a quick 4 corner loop to close us out after the hill suicides.   Had no idea that light pole run and 3 partner circuit would eat that much clock.
  • I promised 3 miles and I only got 2.5.  But I’m pretty sure sure Baio came close to 3 with his circling back so that counts.  And since he is as quiet as Chatter Box, he will never speak up to let us know otherwise….so on that, I heard Baoi got close to 4 miles in actually….
  • Great push by Dilbert.  Hollywood almost broke him his first time at Floater.  Glad you gave it a second try.  I’m pretty sure mine was much easier.  It at least had less running.
  • Love seeing Ex Lax out there pushing to his limit.  Dude is dropping some serious LB’s and its showing.
  • Chatter box wouldn’t shut up today.  On and On….   At least I think.  He was in front of me most of the time.
  • Thanks again for the Floater Site Q’s for allowing me to lead.  Lets not let 2.5 years go by before you invite me back again.
  • I’d call out more people but I have to get to Raleigh and I have to get to the point of the title as I’m sure most are scratching their heads trying to figure it out.
  • A Touch Of The Master’s Hand is a poem that was life changing for my Great Uncle.  Its often circulated in AA meetings, but has meaning outside alcohol addiction.  It was important enough to my family that my Grandad asked that I memorize it in fourth grade and recite it at our annual family reunion.  I decided to recite it today instead of a prayer.  Little did I know that all these years later emotions would overcome me as I read it and thought about both my grandfather and great uncle towards the end (sorry to those in attendance).  Hopefully you will have time today to read it and think about the words.

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

By: Myra Welch
‘Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar. Then two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?””Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three…” But no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of the Master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game — and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.

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