Creating Community

Men are expected to “do.” Society demands they get jobs, grab life by the horns and provide for themselves, their family, and those in need around them. Men are given this sense of personal responsibility to  provide, produce, and proceed with life under any and all circumstances.

As a culture, we’ve made a list of “oopsies” that are not forgivable. We’ve made a rating system that does not leave room for certain types of error. Sexual deviants, murderers, and drug dealers are difficult to feel sympathy for. When a man’s mistakes surpass our acceptance level, we remove all options and ability for them to take responsibility for their actions and move past it.

Given my last few days, I could write volumes on this idea. Trying to fit them into some sort of overarching blog post would prove itself scattered and almost incoherent.

Thesis: I am arguing that the greatest disregard for the humanity of women is in the sex industry (exotic dancing,  pornography, trafficking, etc) , and the greatest disregard for the humanity of men comes in disabling men to live up the expectations to provide, produce, and (most importantly) proceed.

One of those is completely untouchable for me for more reasons than one. The other, I can do something about.

Living dependent on Christ isn’t the easiest task we have. The Bible is action packed with a whole multitude of different encouragements, teachings, and support for how He will take care of us in time of need. Regardless, it is difficult to take Matthew 11:30 and let it reside in  your heart. Living it in practice is different than reading about it on paper and thinking “oh yeah, wow, it’s just that easy.”

We all have this capacity for a mindset believing that when bad things happen, it’s a direct result of doing something bad. Bad doesn’t come out of good, bad comes out of bad. It’s systematic, it’s predictable, it’s fixable and addressable.

My spiritual walk has seen the peaks and valleys that most are used to. I am working on their familiarity. My perspective is still warped and I feel immense pressure to perform to some standard when I see myself doing bad or bad things happening in my life. I want out of the valley, but the fog is thick and I can barely see the steps in front of me. When bad things do start happening or I see them on the horizon, I immediately fall back to thinking about what I’ve done wrong and what I need to change to make it right, show Him that I’ve got it and that it’s OK. I disregard my, what Manning would call, ragamuffin status for one of general control and persistence towards success.

My you be my focus, my light, my guidance. May my perspective change from that of action/reaction to call/response. May you bless me in ways I need not think of and at times I need not understand. I’d like to, oh that’s a given, but I can rest in your hands, expectant of the food.

Dave Ramsey’s shtick isn’t money, it’s the application of focus. It’s the desire, passion, and motivation to zero in on a specific goal and attack that goal at all costs. It’s Covey, it’s “death before dishonor.” He has been brought to the level he is at with his application of focus towards financial well being. He is not a genius, he is not some wonder-man. He is, though, a leader who is motivated to help individuals alleviate financial burden.

Focusing your intensity on a specific goal is most helpful when the goal is defined, when you know where you’re headed. Beginning with the end in mind.

I am finding myself at the beginning of a new era, the start of a new chapter of my life. This new chapter feels different, feels far more exciting, far more invigorating. My fear is that the flint spark is about to hit the gun powder and the powder is on a table resulting in a poof of smoke: some fun reaction, but nothing of consequence. My prayer is to allow him to change that fear into motivation to put the powder in a gun barrel, propelling me towards a specific target, a goal, His end to have in mind.