Faces of Manhood

I am currently going through the first stage on a program called Men's Fraternity. In our second session we discussed the four faces of Manhood: the King, the Warrior, the Lover, and the Friend. One of the things that we learned in the first week is that manhood is in a state of confusion. I can see this clearly, especially in my life, as I've discussed and reflected on my past and where I am today.

I would say that out of all the faces, I can identify most with the Warrior (initiative, protecting, providing, perserverance, and fighting) because that's all I've known most of my life is the constant battle to survive. My weakest face would definitely have to be the King because I never grew up believing that I was worth anything to anyone. I never had a King in my life to show me how to be a man....how to have righteous leadership. I believe that I have strong convictions and a servant's spirit but I have always struggled with making courageous moral choices. Until the last two or three years, I had no idea how to be a Lover or a Friend because I didn't have time to learn. Eric has taught me what it's like to have another male affirm me as a man and be willing to grow next to me, giving and willing to receive affirmation and constructive criticism.

This journey over the next year is definitely going to be a rough road, but I think that I will come out on the other side a stronger and better man for it. I am looking forward to being able to grow and live life with other men around me. One of the cool things about Men's Fraternity is that you have the videos and then you break it down in your small groups and get a chance to discuss what you've watched and just life in general. It's been amazing to watch other men open up and get real with what's going on. People always say that men are typically simple creatures and we have simple needs but I think it is an over generalization or maybe the fact that men are so complex at times, we don't know how to discuss our intimate desires and concerns. Who knows? I look forward to writing about what I learn over the next year.