I have quoted Aaron Renn often in my blogs.  He has written some very thoughtful insights regarding masculinity.  He recently posted the following, about 10 healthy pillars for masculinity.  Renn describes these pillars as, “things on which life is built.”  He believes “America needs a new vision of a healthy masculinity fit for the 21st century.”  The 10 pillars are foundational pillars of the masculine life that a man needs to have as “part of is manhood repertoire.”  

See what you think of these pillars?  Are they part of your understanding as a man?  Do they fit into the lifestyle you have chosen for yourself?  What would you add or subtract from the list?  How are you challenged by this list?  Does it help clarify what are your foundational pillars in the present stage of your masculine journey?  Remember, there are a lot of voices telling men that we are toxic and have little relevance in our day.  Aaron Renn is a man to be respect as a spokesman for Christian men in our day. 

Here is his list.  I will make some personal observations from my life as one who has been on the journey for many years. 

1. Identity.  “If you don’t know who you are, you don’t know what to do.  ‘Who you are?’ is the most fundamental question of life.” – (One of my greatest insights has been simply this, “I  have a Father in heaven who delights in me.”  This has removed much of  my shame and guilt.)

2. Mission.  Each man should have a mission. – (I am thankful for receiving my “marching orders” at 18 to be a servant of the Lord Jesus.  It  still applies in my retirement years.  I simply want to be a humble, loving follower of Jesus.  It is more about being than doing.)

3. Agency.  “You have to believe that it is possible to take action to change you circumstances to the better, to take positive steps toward progress in your mission.” – (I thank God for his grace  and mercy enabling me to go through the dark times, where I grown the most as a man.)

4. Virtue.  This implies, “cultivating excellences across multiple dimensions of virtue” such as theological and cardinal virtues. – (I desire to continue in my character formation as a “godly man” in an unfriendly toxic culture.)

5. Knowledge.  “You need to know how the world works… not just how people tell you it works…. but how it actually does work.”- (I work daily at cultivating a “Christian worldview” that speaks to a negative culture.”)

6. Wisdom.  “You have to constantly grow in how to apply your virtue and knowledge in the right way in each situation.” – (With all my heart I want to be a faithful witness for the Lord no matter what the cost.  Darker days are coming for believers.)

7. Fraternity.  “Every man needs a band of brothers.” – (As of now I have two brother who I can absolutely trust. I need the voices of other men in my life.)

8. Family.  “Getting married and having kids is the normative path for men in life.”  – ( I am so thankful for prioritizing my family as being first in the earlier years of marriage and having three children.) 

9. Suffering   “Boxer Mike Tyson said, ‘Everybody’s got a plan till they get punched in the face.'”  – (I believe that the way to a man’s heart is through his pain. My humiliations have taught me the most.)

10.  Legacy.  “What are you going to leave behind when you are gone?  How will you have an impact in the world that extends beyond the span of your own life.”  – (I sincerely pray that my death will be a gift to my family.)

Having grown up near Lake Superior, I am familiar with the sound and fury of the waves breaking on the shores of the great lake.  Ps. 93 reminds us that God is “robed in majesty and is armed with strength.  The world stands firm and cannot be shaken” (v.1).  The Psalmist seems to describe his experience, “The floods have risen up, O Lord.  The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves” v.2).  But he can confidently declares, “But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore – the Lord above is mightier than these!” (v. 4).

One way to describe the state of our nation is that of flood waters breaking in all upon us.  It can be typified by the chaos and confusion that is felt due to the completing voices speaking loudly for our attention and allegiance.  The sheer noise of conflicting opinions will only increase. It seems that the storm of discontent, misfortune, and misinformation has suddenly crashed in upon our shores.  The storm has been a long time in coming. It causes fear, anger and resignation in the hearts of many.  It almost seems like there is a spiritual component orchestrating the chaos and confusion.  I am afraid that social media will only keep creating even more of a storm.  

What are followers of Jesus to do?  We certainly cannot go and hide from the sounds of “bad news.”  We must keep engaged by announcing in both word and deed the “good news” of Jesus and his kingdom.  While staying engaged we also have a hiding place from the storm. We read in Psalm 32:6 -7, “Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.  For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory.”

Men, the floodwaters of judgment could very well be ever increasing amidst the continual negative rhetoric being voiced by opposing voices.  Where in the chaos can one possibly hear “good news? Could it be in our present cultural condition, we are drifting further from the Lord, while worshiping the gods of our own making?  The confusion and uncertainty could be God’s warning,  allowing us to experience our own rebellion.  The Psalmist encourages us to “pray while there is still time.”  In other words, turn our hearts to the Lord and cry out for mercy.  The focus on the noise should not be our first concern.

In the midst of the present storm bearing down on our nation, the Psalmist offers us a lifeline.  The Lord is a “hiding place” able to protect us from trouble.  Not only a safe place, but also the assurance that we are surrounded with “songs of victory.”  The NET puts it this way:  “You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance.”  The Message is rather blunt.  “When all hell breaks loose and the dam burst, we’ll be on high ground, untouched.”  Men, we need to run for higher ground to be with others celebrating God’s victory in spite of the raising waters.

Later in the Psalm, the Message puts the advice of the Psalmist in blunt words. “Let me give you some good advice; I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on the track” (vs. 8-9).  Our loving Father is heaven looks us straight in the eye, warning us not to respond like an ornery horse or mule.