This may seem like a strange title for a bog about wildmen. The idea of men not being the weather came to me as I was rereading a book entitled “Into the Silent Land” by Martin Laird. Laird makes the point, which I have had a hard time to accept over the years, that I am…
Recently I read the following two quotes from two of the spiritual guides from the past. I want to comment on them in relationship to our becoming discouraged about our “habituated patterns of sin.” The first is from Fenelon. “Never be discouraged with yourself. Despondency is not humility. Actually, despondency is the despair of your wounded…
The psalmist talks of our soul being like a weaned child within us. “My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like…
Ronald Rolheiser, a Catholic spiritual director has warned that there is a “gender alienation” in the church. According to Rolheiser this alienation is expressed in anger and grief. The anger is expressive more among the women, while the grief is more expressive of the men. The reason for this anger and grief is due to…
Men, March Madness is upon us. I have to admit that I am “pumped” again this year. I have been for years. I personally am going with Ohio State. So what is it about March Madness that grabs men. I suppose it is the competition of so many great teams. It is the thrill of following the underdog. We know it only…
Richard Rohr makes this observation, which for him expresses the essence of the male spiritual journey. “A young man who cannot cry is a savage, and an old man who cannot laugh is a fool.” Rohr in his work with men has found that a man who cannot feel human suffering when he is young, will…
What is the foundation stone of your life? We read in I Peter 2:7, “The stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone” (The Message). The implications of this statement are significant when men consider how their lives have been shaped more by the culture rather then by the gospel. The foundation stone is…
I read this phrase on the front of one of the clothing stores in the Mall of America during the last Christmas Season. I copied it down and put in my wallet and then forgot about it, till I discovered it last week as I was going through some stuff I wanted to get rid…
I have mentioned David Benner on this blog site in the past. He has helped me a great deal in thinking through the issues regarding Christian spirituality. I highly recommand all of his writings. His latest book “Opening to God” is a great book on prayer. I will be going back to it often. There is…
One of the issues related to ministry with men that is not given enough attention is the affirmation that every man needs regarding his masculinity. Richard Rohr who has worked with men all over the world has observed, “in almost all cultures men are not born; they are made.” “Masculinity” maintains Leanne Payne, “is a…