The Biggest Problem w/ Understanding Manhood
The biggest problem with how we understand manhood is this: We focus on the image of a man instead of the substance. Image is the cowboy, CEO, body-builder, athlete, soldier, etc. It's understandable. These are images we can quickly and easily identify with (or not). Image is what a man does. Image is shallow work. Let’s unpack this through one of the most famous heroic stories in all of literature: David and Goliath. Background - Out of Obscurity to Great Reward David has all the trappings of a hero story. When we think of David, it’s easy to focus on the image of a man: the ultimate warrior king. But this is about substance. So David - the young, insignificant, neglected brother - alone in obscurity in the fields. Meanwhile, his brothers and all of Israel are in a stand-off with the Philistine army: Israel is to send a man out to face Goliath in a winner take all battle (you know the story). The reward: “The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father’s family from taxes in Israel” (1 Sam. 17:25) Pretty enticing for any man:
David’s Response David stumbles upon the scene as he is delivering supplies to his soldier brothers. David’s doesn't respond to the reward. His perspective is rich with substance: "Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Sam. 17:34-37 Men with Substance:
Final Thoughts Men that don’t have substance prioritize image. They obsess with the external. The world would have you believe that what can be seen outwardly defines a man. Nothing could be further from the truth. Men with substance build an inner life. (You cannot do this without God) When you’re around men with substance - it’s like a fragrance. It’s not any one thing - it’s just who they are that compels you. They have:
Such are men with substance. Let you be one of them. ___ If you were forwarded this and want future newsletters: Join Here. The Gentlemen's AgreementBy reading this newsletter, you are committing to live as a Vital Man. And as with every mission, the message must travel. Here's the deal: if you received a nugget from this newsletter, simply hit "forward" and share it with someone who comes to mind. We will keep sharing the message & you keep spreading. If you want to hear about a certain topic, hit "reply" and let us know. |
VITAL MAN
Samson is a picture of the modern masculine archetype. A man who left the mundane life of his home town and journeyed exotic lands, battled wild beasts, romanced women, and drank deeply in rich cultural experiences. Samson Fountain / Peterhof State Museum-Reserve And yet his life ended in ruin. Samson's story serves as a great warning to us as men in the area of calling and the pursuit of adventure. We must pay attention. Let's dive in. The Set Up: The Allure of Culture Samson was born during...
Last week we spoke about the original sin of man: passivity. If you missed it, read it here. The antidote to passivity is intentionality. 3 Step Framework for Becoming an Intentional Man. 1) Identify Your Areas of Responsibility We all have them. Question is: how are they doing under your care? Work, marriage, health, creative work, spiritual life, relationships, etc. List them out and figure out where you need to turn up the intentionality. 2) Write The Vision Intention = first vision, then...
The Original Sin Of Man I recently re-read the story of Adam & Eve something jumped off the page that changed my entire perspective. We often focus on (and blame) Eve for the fall of mankind. But this time I saw something different. I saw the original sin of man: Passivity. Let me explain: (my working definition of passivity: neglecting God-given responsibility) It’s going through the motions It's living life in the background It's sitting in the stands vs being in the arena It's leaning back...