Skip to main content

Continuing to Pick Up The Pieces After Spring Break Day 70 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

Continuing to Pick Up The Pieces After Spring Break

Day 70 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

As we talked about during our weekly meeting and in last week’s blog, spring break came in like a wrecking ball. Leading up to it, I had my routine locked in—early mornings, structured prayer, colder showers (that still sucked), and a rhythm of discipline that made me feel like I was actually transforming. Then, spring break hit….which led to more than a few slip-ups and more than a few liberties that were taken on how to interpret the disciplines  

By the time the break was over, I felt like I had taken five steps back instead of continuing my momentum toward Day 90. Guilt crept in. That small voice in my head kept saying, “Well, you blew it, might as well just ease up for the rest of the program.”

But here’s the thing—as we have talked about Exodus 90 was never about perfection. It’s about resilience. It’s about falling and getting back up, and helping your brothers get back up. And so, this week, as I stare down Day 70, I’m revisiting my original goals.  How are you feeling when you look at where you started vs where we are now?  Let’s break them down.

Physical Discipline → A Lifestyle, Not a Sprint

I initially saw this as a challenge to push my limits, see how much weight I could lose…but now I see it’s really about building a sustainable lifestyle. Spring break revealed that I still rely too much on external motivation. My new focus? Balance and consistency. It’s not about punishing myself for failures—it’s about learning how to get back on track faster…and how to continue the baby steps forward to a better life.  Sean and I talked about this on Friday over coffee.  Exodus is really just a 90-day test run to see which disciplines can truly help us live a more thoughtful life moving forward, while also becoming closer to God, our family and those around you.   

Prayer → Less Obligation, More Conversation, More Real

In the beginning, my holy hour often felt like a checklist item—something I had to do. But after missing a few days and feeling the difference, I’m realizing how much I need that quiet time. Instead of rigidly forcing a set structure, I’m leaning into prayer as conversation—letting it be messy, real, and honest.  Sean has said a few times in our meetings, that he heard from (can’t remember who) Pray as you can, pray as you are…and this is more true than ever.  When I first met Greg, it was usually on the way dropping the kiddos off at school and on our way to adoration…and I used to joke I was only doing a quick “drive by” vs spending a full hour there on my knees.  Hey I didn’t want him to think I was being lazy, but now that I think about it…that quick “hi” and “bye” was ok.    

Brotherhood → From Support to Accountability

I joined this journey for fraternity and to be with all of you guys, but I’m seeing now that true brotherhood isn’t just about encouragement—it’s about accountability. As Sean and I have spoken – and even talking with everyone last week, we all joked about how spring break sucked, but none of us said, “don’t worry about it” we each called each other out and challenged each other recommit and get refocused. That’s what real support looks like.

With 20 days left, I’m shifting my mindset. This isn’t about limping to the finish line. It’s about finishing strong—not perfectly, but intentionally, and starting to think about which of these million disciplines we have taken on through Exodus is going to be continued moving forward?  

If you’ve fallen off like I did, don’t give up. The only way we fail is if we stay down.

Let’s reset, refocus, and finish this together.

Only 20 more days to go.  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No TV, No Snacks, No Bourbon, Oh My! Day 10 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

No TV, No Snacks, No Bourbon, Oh My!   Day 10 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood Our lives change when our habits change.  But in today’s fast-paced, convenience-driven culture, comfort is king. From heated showers and endless streaming options to the instant gratification from an indulgent snack, modern life is designed to ensure we never feel discomfort for long. Yet, the Exodus 90 program flips that concept on its head calling men to embrace cold showers, a digital detox, and the elimination of indulgences. The first few days of this journey have revealed much about the grip comfort and distraction have on our lives—and the transformative power that comes from breaking free of it.   But to be honest, the hardest part of this journey so far hasn’t been unplugging from social media, giving up TV or going cold turkey with my evening bourbon.  It has been finding an hour to pray, or even knowing what to do during this time.  That’s r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Building Brotherhood. Day 20 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

Building Brotherhood. Day 20 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood Twenty days into Exodus 90 and I am beginning to realize that this journey is not just about self-discipline or sacrifice—it is about brotherhood. From the very beginning, when I committed to this challenge alongside the 11 men of our Whiskey Wednesday group, I knew that I wasn’t in this alone. However, I don’t think I fully understood the power of fraternity until now. In these past three weeks, there have been moments of struggle—times when the cold showers felt unbearable, when cravings for comfort tried to break my resolve, and when prayer felt more like an obligation than an encounter with God. Yet, every time I’ve felt weak, I’ve been reminded that I have brothers walking this path with me just across the street and around the world. One of the greatest blessings of this experience has been my anchor, Sean. His encouragement, accountability, text serving up Salmon Chowder recipes and honest conver...
Post a Comment
Read more

Something’s Brewing Here Day 50 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

Something’s Brewing Here Day 50 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood There’s something deeply satisfying about brewing beer.  And something even more satisfying when you are brewing with a group of men you greatly respect. The process is deliberate, demanding patience, precision, and trust in the recipe (and our brewmaster John). Every step, from selecting ingredients to the final pour, is a lesson in discipline and craftsmanship. And, of course, the best part isn’t just the beer—it’s the camaraderie, the shared effort, the sense of accomplishment when you finally taste the fruits of your labor.  Although the beer is a pretty awesome reward too.   As I reflect on my Exodus 90 journey, I can’t help but see the parallels between the discipline of brewing and the spiritual refinement of this program—especially on Day 50, when the challenge of perseverance begins to weigh heavily. THE BREW:  When you brew beer, you follow a strict process. Each ing...
Post a Comment
Read more