Dear Men,
Almost two decades ago, I gave up about 6 months of my life to earn some titles and macho bragging rights that I assumed (hoped, actually) would define me for the rest of my life.ย Guys tend to do that: look for strength and meaning in titles, trophies, and tabs. ย To say that this pursuit dominated my existence would be an understatement.
Still now, they’re cool I guess. ย But, the coolness drastically diminishes as I move from one phase of life to the next.
Caught up in the here-and-now, I never considered how quickly those things would become the then-and-there. ย So, now what? ย Is that all there is to life: one endless string of here-and-nows that will eventually gather dust and leave us hoping everyone remembers our then-and-theres?
Maybe.
But, what if it isn’t? ย If this Man really was born in a manger and really did decide to die on a Tree, are we responding to That accordingly? ย Was the whole Point of his Friday afternoon green mile to give us one more badge, tab, title, or club to join? ย If so, great. ย Sign me up. ย I’ve got some time to kill before my next here-and-now.
Be sure to tell me how to wear the badge though: I don’t want to look silly.
If that wasn’t the Point, then what? ย What do we do with the titles we’ve worked so hard to earn? ย Where do I put my membership card? ย My nifty uniform?
If His Intent wasn’t to boost my ego, to give me something to do on Sunday, to keep me from cussing, or to tell me how I should vote in next year’s election, I’d prefer to know now. ย Up front. ย I’d really rather not invest my time in another here-and-now if something better is going to come along. ย Besides, I already know who I’m voting for.
But, if my previous life’s cocky pursuit of bragging rights left me with anything of real value, it’s the realization that I am capable of being radical when I really want to.ย So are most other men I know.
So, if His Intent was to give me one last Pursuit, then He’s got my attention. ย But, it better be a good one. ย I can handle one more here-and-now, but not another then-and-there. ย This is it. ย Present me with an all-or-nothing scenario.
I’ve got time for a Pursuit that retrieves my long-lost inner radical. ย I’ve always preferred being surrounded by a bunch of insurgents anyway.
-bill