As I think back upon this past Father's day, I am reminded of a story about my dad. My dad is probably the greatest man of old that I know. He is strong, honest, and good. I love my dad very much. Without getting too sentimental, I will share it here.
When I was a kid, I used to love to play baseball. I still like to play baseball, actually. My favorite thing was just to throw the baseball around. I loved to play catch. I was in that phase where baseball was still new to me, and I just loved each time I got to play catch to see how much farther and faster I could throw it and to see if I could catch all of them thrown to me.
I would sit in the living room waiting for my dad to come home from work in the summer. Secretly I would know exactly where my mitt and the ball was just in case my dad had time to play catch. My dad is a hard-working man, so I never wanted to intrude myself upon him to play catch. I always waited until he asked me.
I still remember those times. I would try not to show it, but I would be so excited. It's not like my dad never had time for me or anything. He always made time for me and would do anything for me. But, it's not like we played catch every single nite. So the nites that we did get to play catch, it was extra special.
I really never realized it until this year when I was gone in Africa. My dad would probably be so tired when he got home. I was just a kid who had sat around all day in the summer. But he would ask me if I wanted to play catch and then we would go out and throw the ball around. He would be wearing his work clothes. And I would be wearing a silly grin on my face.
I know it is not a ground breaking story or anything, but that is one of the things I will always remember about my dad.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
In the Eye
Men of old would look each other in the eye when they spoke. This simple, natural gesture goes deeper than what it seems, and it is something that men today have lost. And this is something that men today need to regain: the ability to look each other in the eye.
Again, this goes deeper than just having good manners. Looking another man in the eyes means that you have nothing to hide. It means that you consider that person your equal – not in a competitive sense, but in an equality sense. It means that you are being authentic and real with that person; you don’t just look through them or around them. It means that you are speaking the truth, and you are backing it up by putting your word and your name behind it.
Men today need to regain the ability to look each other in the eye. We need to not be deceptive or sinister with our objectives. We need to develop equality with our actions and our attitudes. We need to be authentic enough with people to live in the moment – look them in the eyes and be in the moment with them. And we need to put ourselves fully behind the things that we say and the things that we do. When we are speaking and living the truth – and we are completely resolved in those actions – we will be able to look another man in the eye confidently and proud of our character.
Men of old could look each other in the eye with confidence because of their integrity. Young men, we need to regain this ability: the ability to look each other in the eye.
Again, this goes deeper than just having good manners. Looking another man in the eyes means that you have nothing to hide. It means that you consider that person your equal – not in a competitive sense, but in an equality sense. It means that you are being authentic and real with that person; you don’t just look through them or around them. It means that you are speaking the truth, and you are backing it up by putting your word and your name behind it.
Men today need to regain the ability to look each other in the eye. We need to not be deceptive or sinister with our objectives. We need to develop equality with our actions and our attitudes. We need to be authentic enough with people to live in the moment – look them in the eyes and be in the moment with them. And we need to put ourselves fully behind the things that we say and the things that we do. When we are speaking and living the truth – and we are completely resolved in those actions – we will be able to look another man in the eye confidently and proud of our character.
Men of old could look each other in the eye with confidence because of their integrity. Young men, we need to regain this ability: the ability to look each other in the eye.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Handshake
Do you remember when a man used to take pride in his handshake?
A handshake used to mean a lot more to a man. It was a sign of strength, a sign of goodness. If a man had a good, firm handshake – then he could be trusted. He wasn’t hiding anything. You could tell. You could just tell what kind of man he was.
And men wanted to have a good handshake, as well. They wanted their handshake to be good and strong and an extension of themselves. Their handshake was as good as their word. Do you remember the time when a deal used to be sealed with only a handshake? That handshake was that man’s word. Essentially, the handshake was the man.
That was a man of old. A man whose handshake was as honest and good as the earth beneath him. A man who prided himself in his handshake and who expected the same in return from you. For some men, a handshake was all that they had to give. They did not have anything else. For others, a handshake was the only way they knew to communicate. For most men, a handshake was all they needed.
Can you picture that man of old? Can you picture that? A strong man with a firm handshake who proudly shakes the hand of other good men. Real men meeting each other with an honest and true handshake that connects and builds up each man. Can you see it in your mind? Can you feel it in your heart? Don’t you just yearn for the simple goodness of a strong handshake between true men? It seems like we have lost that today.
Never underestimate the power of a firm handshake between two good men. Young men, this is where we need to be. This is where we need to go. This is who we need to be. Are you with me?
Let’s shake on that. Let’s learn to shake on that.
A handshake used to mean a lot more to a man. It was a sign of strength, a sign of goodness. If a man had a good, firm handshake – then he could be trusted. He wasn’t hiding anything. You could tell. You could just tell what kind of man he was.
And men wanted to have a good handshake, as well. They wanted their handshake to be good and strong and an extension of themselves. Their handshake was as good as their word. Do you remember the time when a deal used to be sealed with only a handshake? That handshake was that man’s word. Essentially, the handshake was the man.
That was a man of old. A man whose handshake was as honest and good as the earth beneath him. A man who prided himself in his handshake and who expected the same in return from you. For some men, a handshake was all that they had to give. They did not have anything else. For others, a handshake was the only way they knew to communicate. For most men, a handshake was all they needed.
Can you picture that man of old? Can you picture that? A strong man with a firm handshake who proudly shakes the hand of other good men. Real men meeting each other with an honest and true handshake that connects and builds up each man. Can you see it in your mind? Can you feel it in your heart? Don’t you just yearn for the simple goodness of a strong handshake between true men? It seems like we have lost that today.
Never underestimate the power of a firm handshake between two good men. Young men, this is where we need to be. This is where we need to go. This is who we need to be. Are you with me?
Let’s shake on that. Let’s learn to shake on that.
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