A few months ago as I was working on one of these posts and had written something about raising sons, a question popped into my mind, "What about dad's of daughters?" A few weeks later, my wife asked me a similar question. It's true, when you look at the masculine journey there is an aspect of it that is focused on sons. As men we go through this and in turn guide our sons through the same journey. But as I thought about the question I realized my intention is not about writing a blog on being a better dad. I'm not a parent yet, and so I don't have the experience to speak from. And even when I am a parent that still wouldn't be my intention. Every child is unique, as is every church, and every business. What works in one situation will not work the same way in another. And so I'm not trying to write a blog on being a dad.
That being said, so much of this that I have written does talk about raising sons. In response to my own question, and my wife's, I want to share a link I saw and that my wife shared with me.
http://tarahedman.com/girls-daddies-knew/
It's about dad's and daughters, and though that one article is not as extensive as the two books we've worked through it's as good resource as I can share.
So if this blog is not about being a better dad then what is it? How to be a better husband? How to be a better leader? Sort of, but still no. The purpose of this blog as we move forward (and look back), is simply this, "Man of God... Who God created you to be." This is about us becoming who we were born to be. As we become men of God we're going to be better husbands, better dads, and better leaders. The more we are molded into who God made us to be, the more of Him we will reflect, and the more into Him we can lead others. The more I love God, and learn to be loved by God, the more I can love my wife and children, and in turn be loved by them. And at the same time my family will teach me things about God and His love for me.
The more I become who God made me to be, the better I'm going to be at the things He has called me to do. It's that simple. And so as we prepare for an epic endeavor, let us be focused on who God has called us be, who He has created us to be. Men of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
...And Where We're Headed
So what's next? Part of me feels a great sense of accomplishment for finishing these two books, but at the same time I know that it was just the beginning. I know that I personally have grown and healed a lot in the past few months. And yet, there is still so much work to do, I am not a Sage yet. This year has been about laying a foundation that we'll now begin to build on.
Starting January 1, 2014, we're going to begin working through the Bible, looking specifically at how it speaks to men. My plan is to write a post every day. Some days we'll look at a few verses, others might be a whole chapter, again, looking at what the Bible says to men about being men. This was my original though for this blog before I began to write. Beginning in Genesis and working through to Revelation we'll see what the Bible tells us about men.
The journey has begun, let's continue to strive forward.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Starting January 1, 2014, we're going to begin working through the Bible, looking specifically at how it speaks to men. My plan is to write a post every day. Some days we'll look at a few verses, others might be a whole chapter, again, looking at what the Bible says to men about being men. This was my original though for this blog before I began to write. Beginning in Genesis and working through to Revelation we'll see what the Bible tells us about men.
The journey has begun, let's continue to strive forward.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Where We've Been...
February feels like so long ago, and this year we've covered a lot of material, and before we move forward it's good to look back at where we've been. They whole those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it thing. If we know where we've been, what we've seen, the foundation we've established, we can begin to build on it.
First we looked at Wild at Heart. A book that unveils the secrets of the masculine soul. In the pages we saw three core desires on the heart of every man.
1. A battle to fight
2. A beauty to rescue
3. An adventure to live
These are the things we long for, these are the things we love in the stories and movies that excite us and capture our attention. Deep down we know that these are the things our hearts long for. God made us in His image, and gave us the heart that desires these things. We were made to join Him in battle against evil. We were created to rescue the beauty of creation. We are invited to join Him in an epic adventure of life to the fullest. And once we have identified the longings of our heart, we can begin to focus our lives on living them out.
And so we come to The Way of the Wild Heart. This is a map for the masculine journey. It outlines the main points along the way, and provides some instructions on how to get there, but largely shows us that we have to live intentionally aware of our surroundings, and in constant relationship with God.
The journey begins with the Beloved Son. It is here that we learn our identity, prized and loved children of God, sons of a strong and loving Father. Here we learn that we are loved, and part of this is being shown discipline and given correction. For the journey to be successful we must know who we are, and whose we are. Identity is the first thing that is challenged, and it is attacked longer and harder than anything else. This stage is crucial, because without this, the journey goes nowhere.
Next we grow into Cowboys. Here the focus is on adventure and hard work. A young man learns about his strength and how to use it. He comes to see that he is powerful, and learns to take risks. At the same time he learns to use his strength to make the world a better place. Rooted in his identity, the Cowboy can begin to explore the world and begins to get swept up in the epic adventure.
Eventually the young man enters the stage of Warrior. He begins to really focus on a cause and learns to fight for it. He learns self-discipline and commits himself to preparing for battle. He develops endurance, knowing that battles are long and hard. The tests of the Cowboy stage have prepared him to join the front lines. He now takes his strength and begins to offer and sacrifice it to save others.
As he grows the young man begins to see that there is more to life than battle, and begins the stage of the Lover. Here he begins to notice Beauty, and learns to have his heart loved and romanced by God. He learns to allow himself to be fully loved, and to fully love. He knows how to fight, and now he learns to find rest and refreshment from battle in the beauty the world has to offer.
And when all of this is transpired, the man is ready to become a King. After he has fought to establish peace and order he returns home to rule. His throne is not his for comfort and luxury, but for serving. He has learned to use his strength for others, and now uses his position to better the lives of those he leads. But more than that, he now focuses on friendship with God. He knows that he cannot be a fully effective ruler without the guidance and counsel of God.
Finally, the older man will step down and hand the throne to a younger King, just as he handed the bulk of the fighting over to younger Warriors. But a good man does not fade into obscurity, he becomes a Sage. Now without the burden of ruling he is able to focus on pouring into younger men. He has a life time of experience and wisdom to offer and assist those who are following in his footsteps. But most important to the Sage is his deep and intimate communion with God. He has time now like he didn't have at any other time in his life, and is able to pour into God, and others, like never before.
This is the map we have, this is what we've seen, and this is only the beginning. Let's journey on together.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
First we looked at Wild at Heart. A book that unveils the secrets of the masculine soul. In the pages we saw three core desires on the heart of every man.
1. A battle to fight
2. A beauty to rescue
3. An adventure to live
These are the things we long for, these are the things we love in the stories and movies that excite us and capture our attention. Deep down we know that these are the things our hearts long for. God made us in His image, and gave us the heart that desires these things. We were made to join Him in battle against evil. We were created to rescue the beauty of creation. We are invited to join Him in an epic adventure of life to the fullest. And once we have identified the longings of our heart, we can begin to focus our lives on living them out.
And so we come to The Way of the Wild Heart. This is a map for the masculine journey. It outlines the main points along the way, and provides some instructions on how to get there, but largely shows us that we have to live intentionally aware of our surroundings, and in constant relationship with God.
The journey begins with the Beloved Son. It is here that we learn our identity, prized and loved children of God, sons of a strong and loving Father. Here we learn that we are loved, and part of this is being shown discipline and given correction. For the journey to be successful we must know who we are, and whose we are. Identity is the first thing that is challenged, and it is attacked longer and harder than anything else. This stage is crucial, because without this, the journey goes nowhere.
Next we grow into Cowboys. Here the focus is on adventure and hard work. A young man learns about his strength and how to use it. He comes to see that he is powerful, and learns to take risks. At the same time he learns to use his strength to make the world a better place. Rooted in his identity, the Cowboy can begin to explore the world and begins to get swept up in the epic adventure.
Eventually the young man enters the stage of Warrior. He begins to really focus on a cause and learns to fight for it. He learns self-discipline and commits himself to preparing for battle. He develops endurance, knowing that battles are long and hard. The tests of the Cowboy stage have prepared him to join the front lines. He now takes his strength and begins to offer and sacrifice it to save others.
As he grows the young man begins to see that there is more to life than battle, and begins the stage of the Lover. Here he begins to notice Beauty, and learns to have his heart loved and romanced by God. He learns to allow himself to be fully loved, and to fully love. He knows how to fight, and now he learns to find rest and refreshment from battle in the beauty the world has to offer.
And when all of this is transpired, the man is ready to become a King. After he has fought to establish peace and order he returns home to rule. His throne is not his for comfort and luxury, but for serving. He has learned to use his strength for others, and now uses his position to better the lives of those he leads. But more than that, he now focuses on friendship with God. He knows that he cannot be a fully effective ruler without the guidance and counsel of God.
Finally, the older man will step down and hand the throne to a younger King, just as he handed the bulk of the fighting over to younger Warriors. But a good man does not fade into obscurity, he becomes a Sage. Now without the burden of ruling he is able to focus on pouring into younger men. He has a life time of experience and wisdom to offer and assist those who are following in his footsteps. But most important to the Sage is his deep and intimate communion with God. He has time now like he didn't have at any other time in his life, and is able to pour into God, and others, like never before.
This is the map we have, this is what we've seen, and this is only the beginning. Let's journey on together.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, December 28, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Epilouge: Where Do I Go From Here?
"Don't forget. Don't let this slip away. There is so much set against a man getting the breakthrough he needs in his life, and hanging on to the breakthrough once it comes. We live in a world at war, but much of the battle is so subtle we often don't see its dangers until long after we've fallen prey to them. The busyness of our cultures, the distractions, the way the Church rushes from one fad to the next - all of it comes together to steal from a man the very thing he needs to hold on to. And so I urge you, stay with this. The masculine journey is the central mission of your life."
There has been so much we've gone over this year, and yet we've barely begun to scratch the surface. We've been given a glimpse at the map we are to follow, and even though we find ourselves at different points of the journey, we've just begun to take the steps toward who we were created to be. Stay with this, don't give up, and don't neglect the journey. John suggests re-reading this book, and working through the workbook either on your own or with a group of guys. He mentions Wild at Heart as well. Both of these options are good. And it's important to journey with others. "We're not meant to walk alone."
This blog is here, and in the next few days I'll be sharing what is next now that this study is finished. But there is something essential about a fellowship of men, your own phalanx with your brothers. Guys you can call at 2:00 AM if need be. Guys who can pray for you, and watch your back during battle. Find them, pray that God brings them to you. Find men to invest in you, and men you can invest in.
"Finally, beware the culture of busyness, and its unending craving for 'the next thing.' There are a lot of movements out there in Christendom right now, and they are not all of the same heart. Stay with the journey you've begun here. don't let this slip away. Of course, you know now that my counsel will always first and foremost be, 'ask God.' He knows what you need next. Ask him what he has for you - what friends, what adventures, what battles, what help he has in store. Be intentional. 'Those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God.' (Rom. 8:14)"
We are His Beloved Sons, brothers, let us always draw near to Him. And may we journey on to become Men of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
There has been so much we've gone over this year, and yet we've barely begun to scratch the surface. We've been given a glimpse at the map we are to follow, and even though we find ourselves at different points of the journey, we've just begun to take the steps toward who we were created to be. Stay with this, don't give up, and don't neglect the journey. John suggests re-reading this book, and working through the workbook either on your own or with a group of guys. He mentions Wild at Heart as well. Both of these options are good. And it's important to journey with others. "We're not meant to walk alone."
This blog is here, and in the next few days I'll be sharing what is next now that this study is finished. But there is something essential about a fellowship of men, your own phalanx with your brothers. Guys you can call at 2:00 AM if need be. Guys who can pray for you, and watch your back during battle. Find them, pray that God brings them to you. Find men to invest in you, and men you can invest in.
"Finally, beware the culture of busyness, and its unending craving for 'the next thing.' There are a lot of movements out there in Christendom right now, and they are not all of the same heart. Stay with the journey you've begun here. don't let this slip away. Of course, you know now that my counsel will always first and foremost be, 'ask God.' He knows what you need next. Ask him what he has for you - what friends, what adventures, what battles, what help he has in store. Be intentional. 'Those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God.' (Rom. 8:14)"
We are His Beloved Sons, brothers, let us always draw near to Him. And may we journey on to become Men of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, December 27, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 15: Let Us Be Intentional, part 2
"I want to live more of my life like that - awake and keenly aware, focused, patient. Determined, but not grasping. Present in the moment. Intentional... We need to remember something essential to the masculine journey - life does not come easily. Not the real thing, anyway. There is far too much at our fingertips in the artificial world made for our comfort and ease. Cable television and air-conditioning and hiring someone else to fix the sink or do your shirts. The masculine soul atrophies under those conditions. And God would have us become men. If life always came easily to us, we wouldn't benefit from it. The things we value are the things we've paid for. The victories we treasure are from the hardest battles. When life is hard or disappointing, we have a new framework for understanding that, a new orientation. We haven't been forsaken. We are not on our own. This isn't just the way it goes. God is treating us with respect, treating us like men. He has something for us in the difficulty. We need to find out what that is, be shaped and strengthened by it."
If we want to become men of God, we have to work for it, plain and simple. And when we do, we'll appreciate it that much more. When we accomplish it, it's ours. We are going to face hardships and difficulties, but in overcoming them we push through the limits we thought we had. We become men, and come to know we are men. Everything in life is working to keep us from the journey, or stop us as soon as we take to the road, but we must endure, we CAN endure. And as we travel on we come to see more and more clearly, that this life is so much bigger than we ever knew.
"All masculine initiation is ultimately spiritual. The tests and challenges, the joys and adventures are all designed to awaken a man's soul, draw him into contact with the masculine in himself, in other men, in the world, and in God, as Father. I make no distinction between taking a boy or a man on an adventure and, say, teaching that man to pray. The adventure - rightly framed - can be a powerful experience of God. And prayer or Bible study - rightly framed - is meant to be the same. Most boys and men share the perception that God is found in church, and that the rest of life is ... just the rest of life... The tragedy of this is that the rest of life seems far more attractive to them than church, and thus God seems removed and even opposed to the things that make them come alive. But as Christians, we believe God embraces the physical world, that he loves Creation as we do, pronounced it very good (Gen. 1:31), that he speaks through it and uses it to teach us many things. We've lost many boys and men from the church because we've given them an unspeakably boring spirituality, implying that God is most interested in things like hymnals and baptismal founts. We've made the spiritual very small, and sanctimonious, robbed and often effeminate. And yet, most of the stories of men encounter God in the Bible do not take place in church(!)."
Ultimately this is about God. This is about becoming who God created us to be, and coming to know Him in ways that we were created to relate with Him. "We have got to recover the wildness of spirituality - especially masculine spirituality. I say this because I know that many of my readers have done a good bit of time in the church, and they're wanting to know 'Where's the Bible in all this? What about discipleship for boys and men?" The question proves my point - that we have lost both a noble view of the earth and how God uses it to disciple us - meaning, to train, develop, and make holy - and we have lost the wildness of masculine spirituality... Everything I've described in these pages is discipleship."
God created our hearts with the longs we have, and He speaks to us in ways that are unique to each of us. And God is so much more than who we encounter in church Sunday mornings (if we encounter Him there at all). God invites us to truly know Him, to see who He is through what He has created. He desires to speak to us in ways that mean something to us. Life, and especially the masculine journey, is not about behaving and looking our best. It is about living passionately from a heart of strength that God has given us.
"I want to say as clearly as I can that the goal of masculine initiation is to endow a man with a strength he knows he has, and knows it is for others. Men need to know that life really is found in God. They also need to know that life at its highest is found when we give ours away on behalf of someone else. You want to present a Cowboy with the question "What good can I do? How can I help someone?" It's a good question for a Warrior as well, and by the time he is a King, hopefully it is what life is all about. Power held on behalf of others."
This is what we after, knowing God, finding our strength, and using to better the lives of others. And this is only going to happen if we are intentional. "You see, we must put ourselves into situations that will thrust us forward in our journeys. So much of our daily lives is simply routine, and routine by its very nature is numbing. Get out of it. Break away... God honors our intentionality as men, and while he will arrange for much of the journey, he asks us to take part as well, to engage. Ask, seek, knock, as the Scriptures urge... Though you man still feel very young inside, and at time our Father will be tender with those places, you are still a man and he will treat you like one. Be intentional about your own initiation into masculine maturity, as intentional as you would want to be toward your own sons, as intentional as you hope God is toward you. This is not a spectator sport."
God is going to lead us, God is going to bring the situations, it's up to us to follow and participate. We can't just watch and expect results, we've got to get up and get moving. We have to keep our eyes open and our guard up. We have to be ready and alert for the moments and seize them when they come. It may be difficult, even painful, at times. "At nearly every stage of our masculine journey, something in us needs to be dismantled and something needs to be healed. Often what needs to be dismantled is the false self, the poser, and the approach to life we've created to secure ourselves in the world. What typically needs to be healed is the fear and wounds beneath it, that fueled its construct."
As we become the men God created us to be, we have to have the wounds stitched up, we have to have the false self torn down, and we need to have the enemies lies removed from our ears. As we journey with God, He will replace the lies with truth, the false self with our true identity, and He will stitch our wounds so they heal. There are moments that do this, moments that heal and define us, and "you've got to have those defining moments in your own masculine journey. They may come in a fellowship; they may come alone, in the wilderness. Even the bravest Warrior and the noblest King need to hear words of validation, words of recognition along the way. Not just once, but again and again. Is this not the heart of our Father?"
This is what God is after, and this is why relationship with Him is central to all of this. Without Him, this journey is pointless, without Him there is no journey to take. We need Him. "For our life is a quest, my brothers, arranged by our Father, for our initiation. There are gifts along the way to remind us that we are his Beloved Sons. Adventures to call forth the Cowboy, and battles to train the Warrior. There is Beauty to awaken the Lover, and power on behalf of others to prepare the King. A lifetime of experience from which the Sage will speak. The masculine journey, traveled for millennia by men before us. And now, my brothers, the trail calls us on."
Let us be intentional. Let us take to the road. Let us become Men of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
If we want to become men of God, we have to work for it, plain and simple. And when we do, we'll appreciate it that much more. When we accomplish it, it's ours. We are going to face hardships and difficulties, but in overcoming them we push through the limits we thought we had. We become men, and come to know we are men. Everything in life is working to keep us from the journey, or stop us as soon as we take to the road, but we must endure, we CAN endure. And as we travel on we come to see more and more clearly, that this life is so much bigger than we ever knew.
"All masculine initiation is ultimately spiritual. The tests and challenges, the joys and adventures are all designed to awaken a man's soul, draw him into contact with the masculine in himself, in other men, in the world, and in God, as Father. I make no distinction between taking a boy or a man on an adventure and, say, teaching that man to pray. The adventure - rightly framed - can be a powerful experience of God. And prayer or Bible study - rightly framed - is meant to be the same. Most boys and men share the perception that God is found in church, and that the rest of life is ... just the rest of life... The tragedy of this is that the rest of life seems far more attractive to them than church, and thus God seems removed and even opposed to the things that make them come alive. But as Christians, we believe God embraces the physical world, that he loves Creation as we do, pronounced it very good (Gen. 1:31), that he speaks through it and uses it to teach us many things. We've lost many boys and men from the church because we've given them an unspeakably boring spirituality, implying that God is most interested in things like hymnals and baptismal founts. We've made the spiritual very small, and sanctimonious, robbed and often effeminate. And yet, most of the stories of men encounter God in the Bible do not take place in church(!)."
Ultimately this is about God. This is about becoming who God created us to be, and coming to know Him in ways that we were created to relate with Him. "We have got to recover the wildness of spirituality - especially masculine spirituality. I say this because I know that many of my readers have done a good bit of time in the church, and they're wanting to know 'Where's the Bible in all this? What about discipleship for boys and men?" The question proves my point - that we have lost both a noble view of the earth and how God uses it to disciple us - meaning, to train, develop, and make holy - and we have lost the wildness of masculine spirituality... Everything I've described in these pages is discipleship."
God created our hearts with the longs we have, and He speaks to us in ways that are unique to each of us. And God is so much more than who we encounter in church Sunday mornings (if we encounter Him there at all). God invites us to truly know Him, to see who He is through what He has created. He desires to speak to us in ways that mean something to us. Life, and especially the masculine journey, is not about behaving and looking our best. It is about living passionately from a heart of strength that God has given us.
"I want to say as clearly as I can that the goal of masculine initiation is to endow a man with a strength he knows he has, and knows it is for others. Men need to know that life really is found in God. They also need to know that life at its highest is found when we give ours away on behalf of someone else. You want to present a Cowboy with the question "What good can I do? How can I help someone?" It's a good question for a Warrior as well, and by the time he is a King, hopefully it is what life is all about. Power held on behalf of others."
This is what we after, knowing God, finding our strength, and using to better the lives of others. And this is only going to happen if we are intentional. "You see, we must put ourselves into situations that will thrust us forward in our journeys. So much of our daily lives is simply routine, and routine by its very nature is numbing. Get out of it. Break away... God honors our intentionality as men, and while he will arrange for much of the journey, he asks us to take part as well, to engage. Ask, seek, knock, as the Scriptures urge... Though you man still feel very young inside, and at time our Father will be tender with those places, you are still a man and he will treat you like one. Be intentional about your own initiation into masculine maturity, as intentional as you would want to be toward your own sons, as intentional as you hope God is toward you. This is not a spectator sport."
God is going to lead us, God is going to bring the situations, it's up to us to follow and participate. We can't just watch and expect results, we've got to get up and get moving. We have to keep our eyes open and our guard up. We have to be ready and alert for the moments and seize them when they come. It may be difficult, even painful, at times. "At nearly every stage of our masculine journey, something in us needs to be dismantled and something needs to be healed. Often what needs to be dismantled is the false self, the poser, and the approach to life we've created to secure ourselves in the world. What typically needs to be healed is the fear and wounds beneath it, that fueled its construct."
As we become the men God created us to be, we have to have the wounds stitched up, we have to have the false self torn down, and we need to have the enemies lies removed from our ears. As we journey with God, He will replace the lies with truth, the false self with our true identity, and He will stitch our wounds so they heal. There are moments that do this, moments that heal and define us, and "you've got to have those defining moments in your own masculine journey. They may come in a fellowship; they may come alone, in the wilderness. Even the bravest Warrior and the noblest King need to hear words of validation, words of recognition along the way. Not just once, but again and again. Is this not the heart of our Father?"
This is what God is after, and this is why relationship with Him is central to all of this. Without Him, this journey is pointless, without Him there is no journey to take. We need Him. "For our life is a quest, my brothers, arranged by our Father, for our initiation. There are gifts along the way to remind us that we are his Beloved Sons. Adventures to call forth the Cowboy, and battles to train the Warrior. There is Beauty to awaken the Lover, and power on behalf of others to prepare the King. A lifetime of experience from which the Sage will speak. The masculine journey, traveled for millennia by men before us. And now, my brothers, the trail calls us on."
Let us be intentional. Let us take to the road. Let us become Men of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, December 26, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 15: Let Us Be Intentional, part 1
"You are prized. You are my delight. (This is the theme our journey is also meant to begin upon, and a truth you will need to hear and experience all the days of your life. You are God's Beloved Son.)... the best thing for a man who wants to find himself 'at any given age is to find a story that somehow tells him about himself.' For we are trying to make a difficult and crucial shift, from our all-too-easily-acquired fatherlessness, to the orientation that our lives also are now quests, journeys of masculine initiation."
We must be intentional if we are to undertake this journey. This isn't something that will happen unless we seek it. And as we pursue it, we are going to face fierce opposition. That is why we must begin, and relentlessly hold on to the truth of our identity as God's Beloved Sons.
"Whenever we feel desolate, or abandoned, or simply feel that the weight of the world is once again on our shoulders, it's probably because we've come to doubt God's heart toward us. Best at this point to return to the truth: you are his Beloved Son. That's our bedrock... the enemy is a thief, and you must understand - if you have not already noticed this - his greatest target is simply your joy. That continues to catch me off guard. I always figured his attacks would make most sense around some major evangelistic campaign, mission trip, or breakthrough for the church. Nope. What I've come to see is that the joy and life God wants to bring us are the things most fiercely opposed."
I've felt this a lot over the past year or so. My joy has been attacked, and even stolen at times. I've come to doubt so much, feel that so much was on me, and that God didn't care at all. If the enemy can get us here, then he doesn't have anything else to worry about. What evangelistic campaign is successful when the leaders are gloomy? What mission trip goes well there is bitterness in the hearts of the people going? What breakthrough can a melancholy church have? Without joy, nothing good is going to happen, and that is why the enemy focuses there.
Our journey begins as we learn who we are, God's Beloved Sons. And our journey must begin there because without that there can be no determination to press through. There can be no intentionality without this assurance. This is what Satan is after because without it we won't press on in our journey. We can not let that happen brothers. The phalanx cannot allow a single weak spot, otherwise it all falls apart.
"This is the flip side of forgetting we are Beloved Sons, this ploy of the enemy to steal the Father's gifts from us and so bring us back to the belief we are fundamentally fatherless. You'll want to keep this in mind as you pursue your own masculine quest, your healing and strength, and the journey of your sons or the men you will guide. Heads up, my brothers. It will be opposed, because it will be among your greatest joys. What usually happens at this point - the point when things turn sour, or become suddenly difficult - is that a man just gives up, surrendering the trip, or the relationship. or the dream. Let the Warrior rise in you. It's worth fighting for."
If this journey was easy, we wouldn't have a shortage of men in the world today. This is not for the weak or the lazy. This journey is for men, determined and courageous men. On this journey we will fight our most difficult, and most crucial battles. But if we persevere we will be who we were created to be. And we must remember that this journey is not a solitary one. The phalanx doesn't work with one shield.
"There is just no substitute for time spent together. How else will the bonding take place? This is true of a father and a son, true for the fellowship of men, true for a man and his Father God. Something happens for the masculine soul in the presence of the masculine that happens nowhere else." We cannot do this on our own. We cannot do this without other men. We need our brothers to fight side by side with us. Recently I've seen just how much I need this, and just how difficult it is to have. Life is busy and demanding, and it really doesn't slow down. If this is going to happen, it isn't going to be by accident. We must be intentional about man time. We must guard it.
We cannot do this without God. He is where we find our identity. He is our source of joy. "Jesus enjoyed a relationship with his Father that we crave. Not a stained glass churchy sort of thing, but masculine oneness. They were close, those two, so close that they were One. We were made for the very same thing, and our lives just aren't right until we have it... Jesus want's us to enjoy oneness with the Father... That's what we need, however wonderful church unity might be. We need oneness with the Father... This is the healing of the masculine soul. This is masculine maturity - "mature in this oneness." To be fathered by the Father, loved by the Father as he loved Jesus, to in fact become one in heart and mind with him and with his Son. Until then, we are fatherless, and lost."
This is what we were made for. As I read this morning my mind thought of a scene from Troy. Achilles, the greatest Greek hero, is leading his ship to the beach to begin the attack. He speaks to his men before they land and tells them, "Take it! It's yours!" They storm the beach, and take it. This journey we are on leads us to who we truly are. You are a Man of God, go get it!
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
We must be intentional if we are to undertake this journey. This isn't something that will happen unless we seek it. And as we pursue it, we are going to face fierce opposition. That is why we must begin, and relentlessly hold on to the truth of our identity as God's Beloved Sons.
"Whenever we feel desolate, or abandoned, or simply feel that the weight of the world is once again on our shoulders, it's probably because we've come to doubt God's heart toward us. Best at this point to return to the truth: you are his Beloved Son. That's our bedrock... the enemy is a thief, and you must understand - if you have not already noticed this - his greatest target is simply your joy. That continues to catch me off guard. I always figured his attacks would make most sense around some major evangelistic campaign, mission trip, or breakthrough for the church. Nope. What I've come to see is that the joy and life God wants to bring us are the things most fiercely opposed."
I've felt this a lot over the past year or so. My joy has been attacked, and even stolen at times. I've come to doubt so much, feel that so much was on me, and that God didn't care at all. If the enemy can get us here, then he doesn't have anything else to worry about. What evangelistic campaign is successful when the leaders are gloomy? What mission trip goes well there is bitterness in the hearts of the people going? What breakthrough can a melancholy church have? Without joy, nothing good is going to happen, and that is why the enemy focuses there.
Our journey begins as we learn who we are, God's Beloved Sons. And our journey must begin there because without that there can be no determination to press through. There can be no intentionality without this assurance. This is what Satan is after because without it we won't press on in our journey. We can not let that happen brothers. The phalanx cannot allow a single weak spot, otherwise it all falls apart.
"This is the flip side of forgetting we are Beloved Sons, this ploy of the enemy to steal the Father's gifts from us and so bring us back to the belief we are fundamentally fatherless. You'll want to keep this in mind as you pursue your own masculine quest, your healing and strength, and the journey of your sons or the men you will guide. Heads up, my brothers. It will be opposed, because it will be among your greatest joys. What usually happens at this point - the point when things turn sour, or become suddenly difficult - is that a man just gives up, surrendering the trip, or the relationship. or the dream. Let the Warrior rise in you. It's worth fighting for."
If this journey was easy, we wouldn't have a shortage of men in the world today. This is not for the weak or the lazy. This journey is for men, determined and courageous men. On this journey we will fight our most difficult, and most crucial battles. But if we persevere we will be who we were created to be. And we must remember that this journey is not a solitary one. The phalanx doesn't work with one shield.
"There is just no substitute for time spent together. How else will the bonding take place? This is true of a father and a son, true for the fellowship of men, true for a man and his Father God. Something happens for the masculine soul in the presence of the masculine that happens nowhere else." We cannot do this on our own. We cannot do this without other men. We need our brothers to fight side by side with us. Recently I've seen just how much I need this, and just how difficult it is to have. Life is busy and demanding, and it really doesn't slow down. If this is going to happen, it isn't going to be by accident. We must be intentional about man time. We must guard it.
We cannot do this without God. He is where we find our identity. He is our source of joy. "Jesus enjoyed a relationship with his Father that we crave. Not a stained glass churchy sort of thing, but masculine oneness. They were close, those two, so close that they were One. We were made for the very same thing, and our lives just aren't right until we have it... Jesus want's us to enjoy oneness with the Father... That's what we need, however wonderful church unity might be. We need oneness with the Father... This is the healing of the masculine soul. This is masculine maturity - "mature in this oneness." To be fathered by the Father, loved by the Father as he loved Jesus, to in fact become one in heart and mind with him and with his Son. Until then, we are fatherless, and lost."
This is what we were made for. As I read this morning my mind thought of a scene from Troy. Achilles, the greatest Greek hero, is leading his ship to the beach to begin the attack. He speaks to his men before they land and tells them, "Take it! It's yours!" They storm the beach, and take it. This journey we are on leads us to who we truly are. You are a Man of God, go get it!
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 14: Sage, part 5
Throughout this book each stage comes with words on raising that stage in both a man, and in your sons. It carries the idea of resurrecting the stage in a wounded man, and raising our sons up to be men. And so let us look at how we raise the Sage.
"The greatest gift you give to a Sage is to sit at his feet and ask questions... It's important that we ask because often in humility the Sage will not offer until he is invited to do so. It's also important that we ask because quite often the Sage himself is not aware of all that he knows. It is the questions that stir his soul, and memory, as a smoldering fire leaps to life again when stirred. In this way we can help to raise the Sage."
Some of the greatest life lessons I've learned have been from asking questions. And from these questions have come some of the most profound words I've ever heard from men. Remember, a Sage is characterized by his compassion. You can't ask a question they will be annoyed with, and it through the questions that you will begin to tap into all they have to offer.
"Now, for you younger men, don't worry much about this stage, for it will come in due time. When you are young, commit yourself to take as few shortcuts as possible. Learn your lessons. Take note of all that God is teaching you. Submit to the journey. Be a student of the Scriptures. Hang out with the wise, living or dead, for that is how we, too, become wise."
For those of us that fall here, lets focus on the journey. As we progress through the stages we'll get here when it is time. And if we are intentional about the first five stages, this final one will happen naturally. So let's live and learn.
"You fathers of sons - the best you can do to prepare a boy for this stage is to begin the lessons of wisdom. In the woodshop and in the field, in the use of language and even in prayer, show him that there is a way things work. Your initiation will show him that the way of a fool is a fruitless way to live."
Be intentional, and work to initiate your sons. Set their feet on the path of righteousness, and teach them to know, serve, and love God. Be a King they are proud to follow, and one they strive to model. Have them imitate you as you imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11.1).
"As for you older men, if the Sage has gone undeveloped in you because you didn't take the journey or take not of the journey you have taken, well, you'd better get busy, 'cause times a-wastin'. At this point you haven't years to go back and gather through many experiences all that you need; you have best walk closely with God, let him focus you on what he'd have you learn now. Some of you just need to be a Beloved Son. Or perhaps a Lover. The wisest thing to do is to seek the communion with God that age and large amounts of time on your hands now allow for."
You're still breathing, so there is still time. Use it wisely. Pour into God in ways that you never have before, or maybe haven't for a long time. Allow him to speak to you. There may be things that still need healing, let Him heal. There are still things to learn, let Him teach. God isn't done with you yet, you're still here, so make the most of the time that is left. "The boy knows God as Father, the Cowboy knows God as the One who initiates, the Warrior knows God as the King he serves, the Lover knows God as his intimate One, and the King knows God as his trusted Friend. The Sage has a deep communion with God. This is a man... living on heaven's shore."
"Those of you older men who have been wounded, or dismissed - have you made a vow never to offer again? I have seen something of how painful that can be. Seek the comfort and healing Christ offer. Let your heart be restored, for you are needed. Despite your wounds, I urge you to offer. We need you to offer. Resolve, as Maclean did, to live and to offer."
Don't let your wisdom die with you. Share it because eventually someone will listen. And remember, you are not responsible for what people do with your words, simply to speak them with love. So speak.
Finally, when we come to the end, we must realize that this can be the time of our greatest contribution. We have the chance now, with the responsibilities of ruling passed to another, to simply invest in the lives of others. "Consider yourself a Sage, and ask yourself, 'What would I love to now be my greatest contribution?' Position and power are highly overrated anyway. Let the Kings shoulder those burdens. They are not your identity. What we need is your heart, and the life you've lived. Please - do not fade away... Make yourself available - the questions will arise in time. Offer yourself to a King you know - your pastor, or youth pastor, a missionary serving overseas with whom you can correspond, or a young businessman. Serve on the board of your church, or the local board of education. Take up pen and paper. Tell your story. This is not the time to be feeding geese."
The past few days I've talked about a pastor friend, a Sage I am blessed to know. He's handed the church off to a younger King, but he's still there. Now he's simply free to do the things he's most passionate about. He's investing still, and having great influence. This is a true blessing, both for him, and for others. And this is what we have to look forward to as Sage, the freedom to do something we are most passionate about.
"Father, I need you now, need you to the end of my days. I ask you to raise the Sage in me. Help me to become a man of genuine wisdom and compassion. [For you younger men:] Show me the Sages you have for me, both living and dead. Help me to find them, and sit at their feet. [For you older men:] Show me the men and women who need my counsel, and show me how to pursue them. Speak to me, Father, stir the fire in my heart. Show me what my contribution is now to be, and father me in making it with all my heart."
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
"The greatest gift you give to a Sage is to sit at his feet and ask questions... It's important that we ask because often in humility the Sage will not offer until he is invited to do so. It's also important that we ask because quite often the Sage himself is not aware of all that he knows. It is the questions that stir his soul, and memory, as a smoldering fire leaps to life again when stirred. In this way we can help to raise the Sage."
Some of the greatest life lessons I've learned have been from asking questions. And from these questions have come some of the most profound words I've ever heard from men. Remember, a Sage is characterized by his compassion. You can't ask a question they will be annoyed with, and it through the questions that you will begin to tap into all they have to offer.
"Now, for you younger men, don't worry much about this stage, for it will come in due time. When you are young, commit yourself to take as few shortcuts as possible. Learn your lessons. Take note of all that God is teaching you. Submit to the journey. Be a student of the Scriptures. Hang out with the wise, living or dead, for that is how we, too, become wise."
For those of us that fall here, lets focus on the journey. As we progress through the stages we'll get here when it is time. And if we are intentional about the first five stages, this final one will happen naturally. So let's live and learn.
"You fathers of sons - the best you can do to prepare a boy for this stage is to begin the lessons of wisdom. In the woodshop and in the field, in the use of language and even in prayer, show him that there is a way things work. Your initiation will show him that the way of a fool is a fruitless way to live."
Be intentional, and work to initiate your sons. Set their feet on the path of righteousness, and teach them to know, serve, and love God. Be a King they are proud to follow, and one they strive to model. Have them imitate you as you imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11.1).
"As for you older men, if the Sage has gone undeveloped in you because you didn't take the journey or take not of the journey you have taken, well, you'd better get busy, 'cause times a-wastin'. At this point you haven't years to go back and gather through many experiences all that you need; you have best walk closely with God, let him focus you on what he'd have you learn now. Some of you just need to be a Beloved Son. Or perhaps a Lover. The wisest thing to do is to seek the communion with God that age and large amounts of time on your hands now allow for."
You're still breathing, so there is still time. Use it wisely. Pour into God in ways that you never have before, or maybe haven't for a long time. Allow him to speak to you. There may be things that still need healing, let Him heal. There are still things to learn, let Him teach. God isn't done with you yet, you're still here, so make the most of the time that is left. "The boy knows God as Father, the Cowboy knows God as the One who initiates, the Warrior knows God as the King he serves, the Lover knows God as his intimate One, and the King knows God as his trusted Friend. The Sage has a deep communion with God. This is a man... living on heaven's shore."
"Those of you older men who have been wounded, or dismissed - have you made a vow never to offer again? I have seen something of how painful that can be. Seek the comfort and healing Christ offer. Let your heart be restored, for you are needed. Despite your wounds, I urge you to offer. We need you to offer. Resolve, as Maclean did, to live and to offer."
Don't let your wisdom die with you. Share it because eventually someone will listen. And remember, you are not responsible for what people do with your words, simply to speak them with love. So speak.
Finally, when we come to the end, we must realize that this can be the time of our greatest contribution. We have the chance now, with the responsibilities of ruling passed to another, to simply invest in the lives of others. "Consider yourself a Sage, and ask yourself, 'What would I love to now be my greatest contribution?' Position and power are highly overrated anyway. Let the Kings shoulder those burdens. They are not your identity. What we need is your heart, and the life you've lived. Please - do not fade away... Make yourself available - the questions will arise in time. Offer yourself to a King you know - your pastor, or youth pastor, a missionary serving overseas with whom you can correspond, or a young businessman. Serve on the board of your church, or the local board of education. Take up pen and paper. Tell your story. This is not the time to be feeding geese."
The past few days I've talked about a pastor friend, a Sage I am blessed to know. He's handed the church off to a younger King, but he's still there. Now he's simply free to do the things he's most passionate about. He's investing still, and having great influence. This is a true blessing, both for him, and for others. And this is what we have to look forward to as Sage, the freedom to do something we are most passionate about.
"Father, I need you now, need you to the end of my days. I ask you to raise the Sage in me. Help me to become a man of genuine wisdom and compassion. [For you younger men:] Show me the Sages you have for me, both living and dead. Help me to find them, and sit at their feet. [For you older men:] Show me the men and women who need my counsel, and show me how to pursue them. Speak to me, Father, stir the fire in my heart. Show me what my contribution is now to be, and father me in making it with all my heart."
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, December 9, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 14: Sage, part 4
Once again we must look at the wounds a man takes, even in this final stage; for no one, not even the Sage with all of his wisdom, is immune from wounds. And at the same time we must be intentional about developing the heart of the Sage throughout our lives. Again, everything along this journey is leading us to this point. All of the lessons and experiences of this journey culminate in the Sage, and it is from these that he offers wisdom and guidance to others. If we desire to finish well, we must be intentional about developing the heart of the Sage.
"The heart of a Sage goes undeveloped when a man has been a fool for most of his life, either in the form of a refusal to take the journey, or a refusal to take note of the journey he has taken. That man made something other maturity his aim - success, usually meaning pleasure, or safety, meaning the path of least resistance. This is the man who spends his golden years walking his dog or golfing. The fool may have seen many winters, but they do not seem to have had any other effect on him beyond fatigue, or perhaps cynicism. Scripture describes a fool as a man who will not submit to wisdom, a man who refuses to be taught by all that life has to teach him."
It should come as no surprise that if we aren't intentional about the masculine journey, or remain ignorant to it, then when we come to the end we'll be incomplete. It isn't that we won't have things to offer, but it won't be all that it could be. And quite often I believe that they won't be offered with compassion. An undeveloped Sage is frustrated, harsh, and cynical. I would also add selfish to the list. Life is now about them being able to take it easy, and letting the rest of the world figure it out for themselves. Retirement is lived just as the rest of life was. What is in this for me, and how can I make my life easier and more comfortable?
"Sadly, there are many aged fools, as anyone who has spent time in Congress, or the university, or in the bowels of religious bureaucracies knows. Gray hair does not a Sage make. No doubt you have experienced that by now." If we don't wish to join them, then we had better be intentional about this journey while we have the chance. Let us not neglect everything the Father is trying teach us and develop in us. There have been many who haven't fallen here. Many men have taken the journey, but I think part of the reason that initiation has been lost over the last few generations is because we haven't listened to the wisdom of our Sages.
"The heart of the Sage is wounded when he is dismissed as a has been, too old to have anything to offer." How many Sages have tried to offer wisdom over the years and been ignored because the youth have seen them as irrelevant and out dated? How much wisdom has been lost because we have reused to soak it up when it has been freely offered? How many Sages have we wounded with our arrogance and ignorance?
"We need more men around who have lived through yesterday, seen it, and eve if they haven't conquered it, they have learned from it. Young Warriors will sometimes dismiss the older men in their lives because those men no longer year for battle, or simply because they don't come from 'my generation.'" Now let me say something that has come to mind. Not every idea the older generation has is wise and useful. Those who live in the past, and want everything to go back to the way it was are those who haven't taken the journey. They do great damage and prevent a lot of good work from happening because it's different. That isn't what a Sage does. A Sage is wise enough to know that things change over time, and he is there to offer his guidance and lessons learned to young Warriors fighting the same battle in a new way.
It is crucial that the Warriors remember that the Sage has done his part in fighting, and now offers what he is able to, to those who are strong enough to carry the sword into combat. And we must also remember that the Sage may see a way around battle. He's learned that war is a terrible thing, and should be avoided at all costs. If there is a way for diplomacy, he will look for it, and try to resolve it that way. But he also knows that we live in a world of war and that some battles are unavoidable. He offers his wisdom on how to fight. It is crucial that we listen so that we don't needlessly waste time and resources.
"Insecure Kings often dismiss the older men around them, send them into early retirement, threatened because the older men know more than they do. And our culture in the progressive West has dismissed the elderly for years now, because we have worshiped adolescence. Our hears are the young and handsome... We've worshiped adolescences because we don't want to grow up, don't want to pay the price of maturity. That is why we have a world now of uninitiated men. Thus the heart of the Sage is wounded when he is dismissed, or sent into exile, or Scottsdale, which is pretty much the same. No one seems to want what he has to offer, and he comes to believe after a time that it is because he has nothing to offer."
If we would live the journey this wouldn't happen. Kings would not be insecure, and they would know that the Sage no longer desires to rule. The King would gladly accept his guidance, and his help, in initiating others in the kingdom. We must realize that growing older is inevitable, and that with age comes the opportunity for great wisdom. We must stop placing burdens on young shoulders, not ready to bear them, and instead look to the wise and mature for guidance. And we must never make the arrogant mistake of dismissing the wisdom of the Sage. They have so much to offer, but we must be humble enough to realize and accept it. For if we continue to push them away, we will continue in the downward spiral we have fallen into.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
"The heart of a Sage goes undeveloped when a man has been a fool for most of his life, either in the form of a refusal to take the journey, or a refusal to take note of the journey he has taken. That man made something other maturity his aim - success, usually meaning pleasure, or safety, meaning the path of least resistance. This is the man who spends his golden years walking his dog or golfing. The fool may have seen many winters, but they do not seem to have had any other effect on him beyond fatigue, or perhaps cynicism. Scripture describes a fool as a man who will not submit to wisdom, a man who refuses to be taught by all that life has to teach him."
It should come as no surprise that if we aren't intentional about the masculine journey, or remain ignorant to it, then when we come to the end we'll be incomplete. It isn't that we won't have things to offer, but it won't be all that it could be. And quite often I believe that they won't be offered with compassion. An undeveloped Sage is frustrated, harsh, and cynical. I would also add selfish to the list. Life is now about them being able to take it easy, and letting the rest of the world figure it out for themselves. Retirement is lived just as the rest of life was. What is in this for me, and how can I make my life easier and more comfortable?
"Sadly, there are many aged fools, as anyone who has spent time in Congress, or the university, or in the bowels of religious bureaucracies knows. Gray hair does not a Sage make. No doubt you have experienced that by now." If we don't wish to join them, then we had better be intentional about this journey while we have the chance. Let us not neglect everything the Father is trying teach us and develop in us. There have been many who haven't fallen here. Many men have taken the journey, but I think part of the reason that initiation has been lost over the last few generations is because we haven't listened to the wisdom of our Sages.
"The heart of the Sage is wounded when he is dismissed as a has been, too old to have anything to offer." How many Sages have tried to offer wisdom over the years and been ignored because the youth have seen them as irrelevant and out dated? How much wisdom has been lost because we have reused to soak it up when it has been freely offered? How many Sages have we wounded with our arrogance and ignorance?
"We need more men around who have lived through yesterday, seen it, and eve if they haven't conquered it, they have learned from it. Young Warriors will sometimes dismiss the older men in their lives because those men no longer year for battle, or simply because they don't come from 'my generation.'" Now let me say something that has come to mind. Not every idea the older generation has is wise and useful. Those who live in the past, and want everything to go back to the way it was are those who haven't taken the journey. They do great damage and prevent a lot of good work from happening because it's different. That isn't what a Sage does. A Sage is wise enough to know that things change over time, and he is there to offer his guidance and lessons learned to young Warriors fighting the same battle in a new way.
It is crucial that the Warriors remember that the Sage has done his part in fighting, and now offers what he is able to, to those who are strong enough to carry the sword into combat. And we must also remember that the Sage may see a way around battle. He's learned that war is a terrible thing, and should be avoided at all costs. If there is a way for diplomacy, he will look for it, and try to resolve it that way. But he also knows that we live in a world of war and that some battles are unavoidable. He offers his wisdom on how to fight. It is crucial that we listen so that we don't needlessly waste time and resources.
"Insecure Kings often dismiss the older men around them, send them into early retirement, threatened because the older men know more than they do. And our culture in the progressive West has dismissed the elderly for years now, because we have worshiped adolescence. Our hears are the young and handsome... We've worshiped adolescences because we don't want to grow up, don't want to pay the price of maturity. That is why we have a world now of uninitiated men. Thus the heart of the Sage is wounded when he is dismissed, or sent into exile, or Scottsdale, which is pretty much the same. No one seems to want what he has to offer, and he comes to believe after a time that it is because he has nothing to offer."
If we would live the journey this wouldn't happen. Kings would not be insecure, and they would know that the Sage no longer desires to rule. The King would gladly accept his guidance, and his help, in initiating others in the kingdom. We must realize that growing older is inevitable, and that with age comes the opportunity for great wisdom. We must stop placing burdens on young shoulders, not ready to bear them, and instead look to the wise and mature for guidance. And we must never make the arrogant mistake of dismissing the wisdom of the Sage. They have so much to offer, but we must be humble enough to realize and accept it. For if we continue to push them away, we will continue in the downward spiral we have fallen into.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, December 6, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 14: Sage, part 3
"We live now in a culture of expertise, so completely second nature to us that we don't give it a second thought... It's become one of our shared assumptions, this reach to 'find the expert,' and I wonder if it's part of the reason we do not understand or recognize a true Sage. In business circles experts are sometimes even called sages. They are worlds apart. A Sage differs from an expert the way a Lover differs from an engineer. To begin with, expertise quite often has nothing to do with walking with God, may in fact lead us farther from him. For the expertise of the specialist gives us the settled assurance that he has matters under control, and that we will also, as soon as we put our trust in him. That is why we love him."
Typing that brought Proverbs 3.5-8 to mind, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones." Expertise naturally leans on its own understanding. It's worked and studied hard, sacrificed so much to be educated (not that education is bad in any stretch of the imagination). It gives one an arrogance, no matter how subtle it might be. Faith is buried under reason and logic, and what need is there for God?
But in the Sage we see the opposite. We see wisdom, gained over a lifetime of learning and growing. I was going to say that there is a sort of expertise, but I don't feel that's the right word. The Sage doesn't rely upon his own wisdom, but up God who has enlightened him with it over a lifetime. And everything that comes out of the Sage's mouth is meant to draw us closer to God. Faith surpasses everything, there is nothing but trust in the Lord. You're witnessing a life that has been lived with God. A life that has watched Him come through time and time again, over and above what was ever imagined. The Sage knows God deeply and personally, and never takes credit or glory for himself. This is what we should be seeking when we need advice and counsel.
"Now of course, there is nothing wrong with expertise - per se. I'd be the first one to find the best heart surgeon in the country should my son need heart surgery. And yet, why is it that we seem to have so few Sages in our midst, that most of us have witnessed the Sage only in stories like those I've recounted? Is it that they don't exist, or might it be that our near-worship of expertise has pushed the Sage to the sidelines?... Given mankind's inexplicable reluctance to rely on God, and nearly limitless ability to rely on anything else, can you see how the culture of expertise actually plays right into our godlessness, despite all our protestations to the contrary?"
The more intellectual we become, the less we tend to rely upon God. The less we feel we need Him.
"The Sage, on the other hand, communes with God - an existence entirely different from and utterly superior to the life of the expert. Whatever counsel he offers, he draws you to God, not to experiences, and that wisdom is one of his great offerings. But he has learned not to lean upon his wisdom, knowing that often God is asking things of us that seem counterintuitive, and thus his wisdom (and expertise) are fully submitted to his God. Humility might be one of the great dividing lines between the expert and the Sage, for the Sage doesn't think he is one. 'Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him' (Prov. 26:12 NIV). thus we might not know we have a Sage at the table, for he will remain silent while the 'experts' prattle on and on."
The Sage doesn't seek to advance himself. He doesn't need to make his voice heard, but we desperately need him to speak. His humble offerings of wisdom contain the words of life that we need to hear. His experience through the decades allow us to see that God is always at work, and that He always provides for His children. In the Sage we begin to see that God can be trusted, and that He will never abandon us. In the life of the Sage we see the promises of Scripture lived out. "The experts impress. The Sage draws us to God. He offers a gift of presence, the richness of a soul that has lived long with God."
Oh that we all would have someone like this. "To sit with a man who has walked with God some seventy-plus years, to be in the presence of a father, to have the eyes of a wise and gracious man fixed upon you, to have his heart willingly offer you affirmation and counsel - that is a sort of food the soul of a man craves... I hope you have had the opportunity to sit in the presence of a genuine Sage, for then you will know that there is an indescribable something that a seasoned man brings with his presence. It's more than just wisdom, much more than expertise. It is the weight of many winters." We only become a Sage by living life with God, for it is only then that we have something truly worth offering, and a heart that is able to offer it. This is where the journey we are on is taking us.
"There is something a man who has lived a full life carries with him that cannot be learned form a younger source, however smart that source might be. The wealth of experience is part of it, an essential part. But I think you'll notice that rue Sages offer the wisdom they've gained through experience with a sort of humility and tenderness, a graciousness I believe is best described as compassion."
A few months ago I was talking with the pastor friend I wrote about yesterday. I was telling him something about the thought I had to get back into professional ministry. He graciously listened to me, and then began to probe a little. Gradually the conversation moved from what I was thinking to the real issues at hand. He began to speak words I desperately needed to hear. I'm blessed to know this Sage. He's wise enough to be able to see beyond what you're saying, but compassionate enough to speak in a way that didn't make me feel like a failure. That is what a Sage does. They speak the truth we need to hear, but in a way that inspires us, not crushes us. You see, the Sage has no agenda, he really just wants to see others succeed. He simply wants them to find all that God has for them. He desires that they come to know God as he has.
"It is a matter of presence. A Sage does not have to be heard, as a Warrior might, does not have to rule, as a King might. There is room in his presence for who you are and where you are. There is understanding. He has no agenda, and nothing now to lose. What he offers, he offers with kindness, and discretion, knowing by instinct those who have ears to hear, and those who don't. Thus his words are offered in the right measure, at the right time, to the right person. He will not trouble you with things you do not need to know, nor burden you with things that are not yet yours to bear, not embarrass you with exposure for shortcomings you are not ready yet to overcome, even though he sees all of that. For he is wise and compassionate."
Oh that we all would find such a man. How many are out there that we have ignored or pushed aside as old and irrelevant? Let us never take them for granted, for when we do, we wound them deeply.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Typing that brought Proverbs 3.5-8 to mind, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones." Expertise naturally leans on its own understanding. It's worked and studied hard, sacrificed so much to be educated (not that education is bad in any stretch of the imagination). It gives one an arrogance, no matter how subtle it might be. Faith is buried under reason and logic, and what need is there for God?
But in the Sage we see the opposite. We see wisdom, gained over a lifetime of learning and growing. I was going to say that there is a sort of expertise, but I don't feel that's the right word. The Sage doesn't rely upon his own wisdom, but up God who has enlightened him with it over a lifetime. And everything that comes out of the Sage's mouth is meant to draw us closer to God. Faith surpasses everything, there is nothing but trust in the Lord. You're witnessing a life that has been lived with God. A life that has watched Him come through time and time again, over and above what was ever imagined. The Sage knows God deeply and personally, and never takes credit or glory for himself. This is what we should be seeking when we need advice and counsel.
"Now of course, there is nothing wrong with expertise - per se. I'd be the first one to find the best heart surgeon in the country should my son need heart surgery. And yet, why is it that we seem to have so few Sages in our midst, that most of us have witnessed the Sage only in stories like those I've recounted? Is it that they don't exist, or might it be that our near-worship of expertise has pushed the Sage to the sidelines?... Given mankind's inexplicable reluctance to rely on God, and nearly limitless ability to rely on anything else, can you see how the culture of expertise actually plays right into our godlessness, despite all our protestations to the contrary?"
The more intellectual we become, the less we tend to rely upon God. The less we feel we need Him.
"The Sage, on the other hand, communes with God - an existence entirely different from and utterly superior to the life of the expert. Whatever counsel he offers, he draws you to God, not to experiences, and that wisdom is one of his great offerings. But he has learned not to lean upon his wisdom, knowing that often God is asking things of us that seem counterintuitive, and thus his wisdom (and expertise) are fully submitted to his God. Humility might be one of the great dividing lines between the expert and the Sage, for the Sage doesn't think he is one. 'Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him' (Prov. 26:12 NIV). thus we might not know we have a Sage at the table, for he will remain silent while the 'experts' prattle on and on."
The Sage doesn't seek to advance himself. He doesn't need to make his voice heard, but we desperately need him to speak. His humble offerings of wisdom contain the words of life that we need to hear. His experience through the decades allow us to see that God is always at work, and that He always provides for His children. In the Sage we begin to see that God can be trusted, and that He will never abandon us. In the life of the Sage we see the promises of Scripture lived out. "The experts impress. The Sage draws us to God. He offers a gift of presence, the richness of a soul that has lived long with God."
Oh that we all would have someone like this. "To sit with a man who has walked with God some seventy-plus years, to be in the presence of a father, to have the eyes of a wise and gracious man fixed upon you, to have his heart willingly offer you affirmation and counsel - that is a sort of food the soul of a man craves... I hope you have had the opportunity to sit in the presence of a genuine Sage, for then you will know that there is an indescribable something that a seasoned man brings with his presence. It's more than just wisdom, much more than expertise. It is the weight of many winters." We only become a Sage by living life with God, for it is only then that we have something truly worth offering, and a heart that is able to offer it. This is where the journey we are on is taking us.
"There is something a man who has lived a full life carries with him that cannot be learned form a younger source, however smart that source might be. The wealth of experience is part of it, an essential part. But I think you'll notice that rue Sages offer the wisdom they've gained through experience with a sort of humility and tenderness, a graciousness I believe is best described as compassion."
A few months ago I was talking with the pastor friend I wrote about yesterday. I was telling him something about the thought I had to get back into professional ministry. He graciously listened to me, and then began to probe a little. Gradually the conversation moved from what I was thinking to the real issues at hand. He began to speak words I desperately needed to hear. I'm blessed to know this Sage. He's wise enough to be able to see beyond what you're saying, but compassionate enough to speak in a way that didn't make me feel like a failure. That is what a Sage does. They speak the truth we need to hear, but in a way that inspires us, not crushes us. You see, the Sage has no agenda, he really just wants to see others succeed. He simply wants them to find all that God has for them. He desires that they come to know God as he has.
"It is a matter of presence. A Sage does not have to be heard, as a Warrior might, does not have to rule, as a King might. There is room in his presence for who you are and where you are. There is understanding. He has no agenda, and nothing now to lose. What he offers, he offers with kindness, and discretion, knowing by instinct those who have ears to hear, and those who don't. Thus his words are offered in the right measure, at the right time, to the right person. He will not trouble you with things you do not need to know, nor burden you with things that are not yet yours to bear, not embarrass you with exposure for shortcomings you are not ready yet to overcome, even though he sees all of that. For he is wise and compassionate."
Oh that we all would find such a man. How many are out there that we have ignored or pushed aside as old and irrelevant? Let us never take them for granted, for when we do, we wound them deeply.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, December 5, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 14: Sage, part 2
"Too many men are far too willing to offer their thoughts on subjects in which they have no real personal experience - especially experiences of God - and their 'wisdom' is not grounded in reality. It is theory, at best, more likely speculation, untested and unproven. At its worst, it amounts to stolen ideas. Such clutter fills the shelves of most bookstores. The Sage, on the other hand, knows of what he speaks, for he speaks from his experience, from a vast reservoir of self-discovery."
There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. It is possible, and common, to have knowledge without wisdom, and a Sage needs to be wise. Knowledge only goes so far, but wisdom allows you to think outside the box, and pick up the things that knowledge neglected. If a man has journeyed through the stages, then his wisdom will be seen, because he has lived a life that is full of experience and encounters with God.
"I would place the stage of the Sage as beginning in the waning years of the King, sometime between the ages of sixty and seventy. There comes a time when the King must yield the throne. This does not mean failure. It means it's time be become a Sage, and let another man be King. Too many Kings hold on to their thrones too long, and they literally fade away once they have lost them (which tells us they were drawing too much of their identity from their position). It will appear that at this stage a man's 'kingdom' may be shrinking - he retires from his career position, perhaps moves into a smaller home or apartment, lives on a fixed income. But his influence should actually increase. This is not the time to move to Ft. Lauderdale... For now the man is a mentor to the men who are shaping history."
I've had the opportunity to witness a transition like this. Almost thirty years ago a man moved to North East Ohio to plant a church. In that time the church grew to over 2,000 attenders at weekend services. He had done a great work for the Kingdom, but one thing that always amazed me about him was his humility and God dependence. At the end of every blog I put the phrase "To God alone be the Glory!" which is something I picked up from him.
A few years ago he began to talk about handing the leadership of the church over to a younger man. They searched, and when they found the right pastor, they had him come and over the next almost two years began a transition of leadership. In September 2012 the pastor fully handed leadership over. But the best part of the story is that he didn't leave the church, his role simply changed. He now focuses primarily on Leadership development and missions. He moved from King to Sage, and has continued to work for the Kingdom.
I am privileged to know this man. He knew that God had used him to do a great work, but didn't want to slow the work down, or bring it to a halt, by clinging to his position past his point of effectiveness, a mistake many have made. His validation didn't come from his status as pastor of a mega-church, but from his relationship with the Father. And when his time of leadership came to and end, he didn't retreat to a life of ease. Just as a King must hand a majority of the fighting over to younger Warriors, a Sage must hand the majority of leadership over to a younger King. But, at the same time, he needs to stick around. "A King needs a sage, and a good test of his humility is whether or not he has one and whether or not he listens to him."
Just because a man has become a King, it doesn't mean he knows it all. There are things he has yet to experience, and it is crucial that he draw upon the wisdom of those older and more experienced than he is. And this is why we need men to stick around and be Sages. We need all that you have to offer. But sadly stories like the one I mentioned are few and far between. Sadly, men like my pastor friend, are harder and harder to find. "knowing how hard it is to find a Sage, you might for the time being draw strength and inspiration from those we find in books and film."
Yoda, the Priests in The Count of Monte Cristo and Kingdom of Heaven, Gandalf, these are some that John points out. We see in these characters heroes behind the heroes. They offer profound wisdom and insight into life that guides those who follow them. And many of their sayings contain valuable lessons for us to learn. It's easy to create a Sage when you have the best writers in Hollywood with days with nothing else to do. But in this I think we see the creation of a Sage in a man. What else is it but a life focused on a journey of masculine initiation with God? When we get to this point in the journey, our lives have been written by an incredible author, and the Sage is full of wisdom gained over the years.
This brings us to an interesting question, are only the old able to be Sages? "Proverbs says, 'The glory of the young in their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old' (20:29 NLT)... Can a younger man be a Sage? Certainly, to some extent... a younger man can offer wisdom, advice, experience, counsel... And yet ... there are some things we just cannot know or understand until we have passed through the years that gray hair signifies."
I'm working on this blog, not knowing the age of my audience. I've preached messages to people old enough to be my great-grandparents. I've discipled teens and college students. I've taught classes to adults. Yes, this like every other stage, can have glimpses earlier in life. As we journey with God and grow closer to Him, we're going to have things to share from the insights we receive. There will be things we experience that we can in turn share with others to help them grow. But at the same time, there is a time to become the Sage. "Just as you don't want a young man to become a King too soon, you don't want him to present himself as a Sage too soon, either - whatever his credentials might be."
I've met some arrogant college students who have done just that, at one point I even was one of them. But as we journey with God, we learn humility, and in this gain wisdom. It takes a lifetime to become a Sage, let's not make the mistake of thinking we've mastered in 18, 25, or even 37 years. Let us continue to walk with God, learning as we go, and taking the stages as we are meant to. When we do, we have so much to offer.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. It is possible, and common, to have knowledge without wisdom, and a Sage needs to be wise. Knowledge only goes so far, but wisdom allows you to think outside the box, and pick up the things that knowledge neglected. If a man has journeyed through the stages, then his wisdom will be seen, because he has lived a life that is full of experience and encounters with God.
"I would place the stage of the Sage as beginning in the waning years of the King, sometime between the ages of sixty and seventy. There comes a time when the King must yield the throne. This does not mean failure. It means it's time be become a Sage, and let another man be King. Too many Kings hold on to their thrones too long, and they literally fade away once they have lost them (which tells us they were drawing too much of their identity from their position). It will appear that at this stage a man's 'kingdom' may be shrinking - he retires from his career position, perhaps moves into a smaller home or apartment, lives on a fixed income. But his influence should actually increase. This is not the time to move to Ft. Lauderdale... For now the man is a mentor to the men who are shaping history."
I've had the opportunity to witness a transition like this. Almost thirty years ago a man moved to North East Ohio to plant a church. In that time the church grew to over 2,000 attenders at weekend services. He had done a great work for the Kingdom, but one thing that always amazed me about him was his humility and God dependence. At the end of every blog I put the phrase "To God alone be the Glory!" which is something I picked up from him.
A few years ago he began to talk about handing the leadership of the church over to a younger man. They searched, and when they found the right pastor, they had him come and over the next almost two years began a transition of leadership. In September 2012 the pastor fully handed leadership over. But the best part of the story is that he didn't leave the church, his role simply changed. He now focuses primarily on Leadership development and missions. He moved from King to Sage, and has continued to work for the Kingdom.
I am privileged to know this man. He knew that God had used him to do a great work, but didn't want to slow the work down, or bring it to a halt, by clinging to his position past his point of effectiveness, a mistake many have made. His validation didn't come from his status as pastor of a mega-church, but from his relationship with the Father. And when his time of leadership came to and end, he didn't retreat to a life of ease. Just as a King must hand a majority of the fighting over to younger Warriors, a Sage must hand the majority of leadership over to a younger King. But, at the same time, he needs to stick around. "A King needs a sage, and a good test of his humility is whether or not he has one and whether or not he listens to him."
Just because a man has become a King, it doesn't mean he knows it all. There are things he has yet to experience, and it is crucial that he draw upon the wisdom of those older and more experienced than he is. And this is why we need men to stick around and be Sages. We need all that you have to offer. But sadly stories like the one I mentioned are few and far between. Sadly, men like my pastor friend, are harder and harder to find. "knowing how hard it is to find a Sage, you might for the time being draw strength and inspiration from those we find in books and film."
Yoda, the Priests in The Count of Monte Cristo and Kingdom of Heaven, Gandalf, these are some that John points out. We see in these characters heroes behind the heroes. They offer profound wisdom and insight into life that guides those who follow them. And many of their sayings contain valuable lessons for us to learn. It's easy to create a Sage when you have the best writers in Hollywood with days with nothing else to do. But in this I think we see the creation of a Sage in a man. What else is it but a life focused on a journey of masculine initiation with God? When we get to this point in the journey, our lives have been written by an incredible author, and the Sage is full of wisdom gained over the years.
This brings us to an interesting question, are only the old able to be Sages? "Proverbs says, 'The glory of the young in their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old' (20:29 NLT)... Can a younger man be a Sage? Certainly, to some extent... a younger man can offer wisdom, advice, experience, counsel... And yet ... there are some things we just cannot know or understand until we have passed through the years that gray hair signifies."
I'm working on this blog, not knowing the age of my audience. I've preached messages to people old enough to be my great-grandparents. I've discipled teens and college students. I've taught classes to adults. Yes, this like every other stage, can have glimpses earlier in life. As we journey with God and grow closer to Him, we're going to have things to share from the insights we receive. There will be things we experience that we can in turn share with others to help them grow. But at the same time, there is a time to become the Sage. "Just as you don't want a young man to become a King too soon, you don't want him to present himself as a Sage too soon, either - whatever his credentials might be."
I've met some arrogant college students who have done just that, at one point I even was one of them. But as we journey with God, we learn humility, and in this gain wisdom. It takes a lifetime to become a Sage, let's not make the mistake of thinking we've mastered in 18, 25, or even 37 years. Let us continue to walk with God, learning as we go, and taking the stages as we are meant to. When we do, we have so much to offer.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 14: Sage, part 1
We come now to the final stage of our earthly journey. In the opening pages of this chapter John says he will be brief because this stage he has not lived yet. I've found as I've moved through this book the last few chapters have been more difficult to write on, and I feel it is for that same reason. I have occupied the office of a King, but haven't fully lived that stage yet. For this final stage of the Sage, age and experience have not brought me to this point yet, and so as I write I'm guessing what will come out is the desire of my heart in the one I'm searching for, and what I hope to be someday, as well as a challenge for all men who are reaching this stage.
One thing I want to point out right from the start is this quote "An important reminder that mentors and fathers need not be physically present, nor even still living." John talks about his process of writing, and how one of the inspirations he drew upon for this book was author Norman Maclean, who died in 1990. He drew from his style and says that "I sat at his feet." This past weekend my pastor finished a series on the life of David and talked about leaving a legacy. One thing he mentioned was journaling. You record your thoughts and revelations in your own hand writing and your children and grandchildren are able to learn from you still. Since I've really started blogging a lot, my journaling has dropped to almost non-existent, but I really want to change that. Yes, these posts to contain my heart and insights, but there is something incredibly personal about your own hand writing.
And so as we journey through life, let us keep records. My favorite Bible is a wide margin NASB, I'm still working on filling the margins. I saw a couple of years ago that someone made a loose leaf Bible, one that went into a three ring binder, also with wide margins. I think this would be a phenomenal thing because the pages could easily be copied for each of your children. They could see what spoke to your heart, and how you grew through the years of your journey with God. Let them see a living, growing relationship with God, and let them have the record of it. A Godly legacy carries on even after we are gone.
And so as we begin to explore the Sage we must remember that we aren't done working and journeying until we are dead. As long as we still have breath, we still have a job to do. This idea is one we have lost in our current American culture. Retirement for many signifies time to take it easy and enjoy the remaining years. I heard on the radio a couple of months ago a man's ambitions for his retirement. He planned to move someplace warm, wake up, eat breakfast, go out and golf nine holes, come in for lunch and a nap, then after waking up go out and golf another nine holes before dinner and bed. That was the ambition he was seeking. "This is the point at which most men retire to Sun City, spend their days at bingo or in front of the History Channel." The thought of that makes me cringe.
That is not my ambition, honestly I find the thought of it quite boring. I don't want to just fade into obscurity, living off of society (which I probably won't be able to do anyway). I want my life to matter right up to the end. I want to finish well, and leave a legacy worthy of a Man of God. "This is the heart of the Sage - to make his greatest contribution with the last years of his life."
In his final book, published after his death, Mclean says this in the preface, "The problem of self-identity is not just a problem for the young. It is a problem all the time. Perhaps the problem. It should haunt old age, and when it no longer does it should tell you that you are dead... While the oxygen lasts, there are still new things to love, especially if compassion is a form of love." Think about that. Again, as long as we are still breathing, we have a job to do. In the beginning God formed man from the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. He then placed man in a garden to tend it. He was given life so that he might take care of creation (Genesis 2.7-9, 15-17). He had breath and a job to do, and that is still the case today. As long as we are still breathing we have a job to do.
Retirement is not the time to take it easy, but to invest. It is the time to be the Sage to younger men. No matter how old you are, you still have a job to do, finish well.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
One thing I want to point out right from the start is this quote "An important reminder that mentors and fathers need not be physically present, nor even still living." John talks about his process of writing, and how one of the inspirations he drew upon for this book was author Norman Maclean, who died in 1990. He drew from his style and says that "I sat at his feet." This past weekend my pastor finished a series on the life of David and talked about leaving a legacy. One thing he mentioned was journaling. You record your thoughts and revelations in your own hand writing and your children and grandchildren are able to learn from you still. Since I've really started blogging a lot, my journaling has dropped to almost non-existent, but I really want to change that. Yes, these posts to contain my heart and insights, but there is something incredibly personal about your own hand writing.
And so as we journey through life, let us keep records. My favorite Bible is a wide margin NASB, I'm still working on filling the margins. I saw a couple of years ago that someone made a loose leaf Bible, one that went into a three ring binder, also with wide margins. I think this would be a phenomenal thing because the pages could easily be copied for each of your children. They could see what spoke to your heart, and how you grew through the years of your journey with God. Let them see a living, growing relationship with God, and let them have the record of it. A Godly legacy carries on even after we are gone.
And so as we begin to explore the Sage we must remember that we aren't done working and journeying until we are dead. As long as we still have breath, we still have a job to do. This idea is one we have lost in our current American culture. Retirement for many signifies time to take it easy and enjoy the remaining years. I heard on the radio a couple of months ago a man's ambitions for his retirement. He planned to move someplace warm, wake up, eat breakfast, go out and golf nine holes, come in for lunch and a nap, then after waking up go out and golf another nine holes before dinner and bed. That was the ambition he was seeking. "This is the point at which most men retire to Sun City, spend their days at bingo or in front of the History Channel." The thought of that makes me cringe.
That is not my ambition, honestly I find the thought of it quite boring. I don't want to just fade into obscurity, living off of society (which I probably won't be able to do anyway). I want my life to matter right up to the end. I want to finish well, and leave a legacy worthy of a Man of God. "This is the heart of the Sage - to make his greatest contribution with the last years of his life."
In his final book, published after his death, Mclean says this in the preface, "The problem of self-identity is not just a problem for the young. It is a problem all the time. Perhaps the problem. It should haunt old age, and when it no longer does it should tell you that you are dead... While the oxygen lasts, there are still new things to love, especially if compassion is a form of love." Think about that. Again, as long as we are still breathing, we have a job to do. In the beginning God formed man from the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. He then placed man in a garden to tend it. He was given life so that he might take care of creation (Genesis 2.7-9, 15-17). He had breath and a job to do, and that is still the case today. As long as we are still breathing we have a job to do.
Retirement is not the time to take it easy, but to invest. It is the time to be the Sage to younger men. No matter how old you are, you still have a job to do, finish well.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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