Suspicion & Mistrust

Many former interns can verify the environment of suspicion and mistrust cast upon any intern that doesn’t fully subscribe to the party line. As I was reflecting upon my experiences there, I noticed an interesting parallel that might help convey this reality.

Each spring, the interns must train to run the Tyler 10k. To be honest, I don’t recall the exact training regimen. However, I do recall that many interns developed overuse injuries, especially in their knees. Because of this, they were requesting to be excused from training. I can remember hearing one of the HA staff members wondering aloud sarcastically if all these were real injuries or if they were just excuses to get out of training. The clear feeling of this staff member was that the majority were most likely lazy, lying interns looking to shirk their responsibility.

I actually believed this staff member and figured people were just not “being honorable.” Until I developed my own knee injury, that is.

So, what we have here is many, many interns complaining of the same malady – but instead of believing them, at least some staff members mistrust and cast aspersions on their motives and character. Apparently, the more likely scenario did not occur to them – if lots of interns are complaining of the same injuries, maybe there is something wrong with our training?

I’ve since run a half-marathon and multiple 5k/10ks. I’ve never had another knee injury in my life because I researched how to properly train my body for such events.

Now keep tracking with me here…

When I was an intern I heard rumors about a contingent of disgruntled alumni at ORU and other places. They were painted with a broad brush as backslidden and disobedient. Clearly, if they were against Teen Mania they must be bitter and rebellious.

Again, it never seemed to occur to any of the staff members – if lots of interns are complaining of the same spiritual and emotional injuries, maybe there is something wrong with our training?

8 comments:

Anonymous said…

Excellent analogy! I never attended the Honor Academy, but am beginning to gather from your blog that exercise is a huge focus of the program. I would like to learn more about this. I have two questions for the readers of this blog.

Do any former interns find it misleading that they sign up for what is pitched as a spiritual program and then find themselves in a forced exercise program?

Does the Honor Academy give the impression that in order to grow closer to God, one must suffer physically?
October 20, 2009 4:16 PM

Recovering Alumni said…

I’ll jump in on your 2nd question…Yes, they definitely promote physical suffering as a means of spiritual growth. Probably one of the first verses you learn is “I beat my body and make it my slave.” We used to recite that verse as we were running our laps…

ESOAL is an entire weekend devoted to this concept…I’ve written about that here before as well.
October 20, 2009 4:18 PM

Anonymous said…

On your first question, Yes. I can certainly see the benefit of “taking care of your temple” and eating healthy and being active. But there is NO type of physical evaluation (at least at the time of my internship) that would either clear or dismiss individuals for the severe, forced, exercise including intense physical strain and lack of sleep. All while NOT being fed a particularly healthy diet. There is no indication to me that what they were interested in was the health of the interns but the actual suffering through extreme conditions.

For the second question, yes. I touched on it above. Also, I was there the same year as “Recovering Alumni” and I found myself reciting “I beat my body and make it my slave” to the point of near passing out on the way to the top of pike’s peak. I thank God I was not subjected to ESOAL. I believe I would be dealing with some major issues from the idea they drive home that you are somehow spiritually superior because you live to see the end of that horrific experience.
October 20, 2009 11:12 PM

Anonymous said…

I was an intern in August 98-99. I got an injury the first day of running because the brand new track was not lit and I fell off the side. It was very difficult to continue training for Pikes Peak, but I did so because I felt like I wouldn’t be believed if I sat out. That is no one’s fault but mine, I know. What I found frustrating is that there was no provision for people at different fitness levels, such as the extreme overweight, uncoordinated, people who hate running (ahem, me) and/or people with injuries. It would have been nice to see that incorporated into the program so those of us in the above categories wouldn’t have been so humiliated. Just a side note: I have NEVER run again after Teen Mania, lol. -Dawn Karels
November 11, 2009 11:16 PM

Anonymous said…

later on they had “alternate corporate”, often led by a GI while the rest of the internship was out running. Alternate consisted of more PT, usually nothing different than what had just been finished with the rest of the internship.I had developed a pretty serious strain in my foot training for the 10K, and i did alternate ONCE…
and the stigma of interns that did alternate was awful. so awful, in fact, that i then chose to WALK while everyone else ran, even though i had interns running by and yelling at me to push myself, etc. etc…i would have rather have put up with that then what came along with attending alternate corporate while everyone ran. if i walked, at least i was still kind of a “part” of the honorable crowd, even if they yelled at me as they passed.
November 12, 2009 9:56 AM

Anonymous said…

Ok so people getting all of these injuries….HELLOO… Thats what happens in highschool or where ever your training!
Seriously stop complaining
November 18, 2009 3:27 AM

Anonymous said…

wow last anonymous, what’s your issue? lol. No one was complaining. Just stating the truth of their experience. It wasn’t the injury anyone had any problems with, it was the fact that if you had an injury everyone thought you were faking, didn’t trust God, and basically had an opinion about it… Like you. Right now. It’s annoying.
November 18, 2009 4:43 AM

Anonymous said…

If you are a TM supporter, you do not have to be so defensive. Christ never defended himself. He didn’t have to. People only need to defend if they have something to hide or cover up.

People are allowed to talk about there experiences. That’s why the world has the problems it does because the Church says keep silent and suck it up!

That’s why there is just as many wounded in the Church as there is in the world because people are made to feel as though they can’t share their experiences.

Christianity is not about having a happy life all day everyday. Christ said that in this life you will have trials but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.

We overcome by sharing our testimony and the blood of the lamb.

You have no right to be a testimony killer. Leave the injured alone
April 21, 2010 12:07 AM