Dude! You've elicited my first ever Substack comment. I opted out of bro culture a long time ago ... which seems to matter much less in my secular spheres than in my evangelical/reformed world that didn't appreciate the vow to submit to my bride on our wedding day. That beautiful woman has let me be broken and reshaped in so many ways, embodies Christ in a much more full way than I could ever and taught me who Brené Brown is. It's Thanksgiving Day here north of the 49th and you've deepened my gratitude for the gift of my humanity, the courage of my wife and our living head Himself. Thanks and peace!
"Let’s define masculinity not by dominance but by depth." Brilliant. Thank you Joseph. This piece was so well done and so important. Masculinity does need redemption, resurrection and the recovery of its holiness. Thank you for modelling this with such faith and integrity. Grateful for your words, wisdom and hopefulness.
Wonderful meditation on manhood! I think men and women are more alike than they are different. We are raised to be different, but both men and women have access to the same feelings. I have a friend who jokes that men only have four feelings: mad, glad, sad, hungry. The last one may not be a feeling, but we'll give it to them. But the truth is, most men are just conditioned to limit their emotional range.
Very well said, Joseph! We need to redeem and redefine the spiritual and emotional dimensions of our masculinity so that they lead us into our full humanity. I've been enjoying all that you write. Thank you for all the food for thought, and keep on loving with courage and conviction.
I LOVE this. My father told me once, "son, you're deadly with a set of tools." I knew from that point that I was not ever to be a "manly man" (whatever that means!). Then when I realized in my teens that I was "different" in other ways, I thought, "Wow, I really have failed at this 'man' thing." I loved the arts, spent my early life studying and performing music as an oboist and church musician. Then (whew!) felt called to ministry. Now a pastor, embracing life as it has found me, and proud of who I am.
I advocate for those who seemingly have no voice, I love people (most of them!) in general, I open my mouth sometimes before the brain engages, I love my dogs, but I am grateful that God has used me as a mentor, example (that's scary. . .sometimes), and child of God. I embrace life, love my church and the people there, and pray we can maintain sanity in this crazy world. Thank you for your honesty and for your willingness to share it openly.
I so often wish I was geopraphically closer that we could grab a coffee sometime. Although, I must confess, I would be a Sam Adams person. I might reconsider if I had company sharing "girly drinks!"
I have given up on trying to become ‘a better man, an alpha, or even a beta (think that’s just a small fish). Instead I’m trying to become a wiser one. Louise Penney, in one of her mysteries, says the four things that lead to wisdom are to learn to say, and mean:
Dude! You've elicited my first ever Substack comment. I opted out of bro culture a long time ago ... which seems to matter much less in my secular spheres than in my evangelical/reformed world that didn't appreciate the vow to submit to my bride on our wedding day. That beautiful woman has let me be broken and reshaped in so many ways, embodies Christ in a much more full way than I could ever and taught me who Brené Brown is. It's Thanksgiving Day here north of the 49th and you've deepened my gratitude for the gift of my humanity, the courage of my wife and our living head Himself. Thanks and peace!
"Let’s define masculinity not by dominance but by depth." Brilliant. Thank you Joseph. This piece was so well done and so important. Masculinity does need redemption, resurrection and the recovery of its holiness. Thank you for modelling this with such faith and integrity. Grateful for your words, wisdom and hopefulness.
Appreciate you expressing these thoughts “out loud” - can’t wait to share!
Can I sign up my permanent roommate for your manliness seminar? 😜🙏 ❤️wonderful read🙌🏼
Wonderful meditation on manhood! I think men and women are more alike than they are different. We are raised to be different, but both men and women have access to the same feelings. I have a friend who jokes that men only have four feelings: mad, glad, sad, hungry. The last one may not be a feeling, but we'll give it to them. But the truth is, most men are just conditioned to limit their emotional range.
Thank you for this timely reminder. Keep following Jesus!
Just love you and your texts! You are so funny and so true!
Very well said, Joseph! We need to redeem and redefine the spiritual and emotional dimensions of our masculinity so that they lead us into our full humanity. I've been enjoying all that you write. Thank you for all the food for thought, and keep on loving with courage and conviction.
I LOVE this. My father told me once, "son, you're deadly with a set of tools." I knew from that point that I was not ever to be a "manly man" (whatever that means!). Then when I realized in my teens that I was "different" in other ways, I thought, "Wow, I really have failed at this 'man' thing." I loved the arts, spent my early life studying and performing music as an oboist and church musician. Then (whew!) felt called to ministry. Now a pastor, embracing life as it has found me, and proud of who I am.
I advocate for those who seemingly have no voice, I love people (most of them!) in general, I open my mouth sometimes before the brain engages, I love my dogs, but I am grateful that God has used me as a mentor, example (that's scary. . .sometimes), and child of God. I embrace life, love my church and the people there, and pray we can maintain sanity in this crazy world. Thank you for your honesty and for your willingness to share it openly.
I so often wish I was geopraphically closer that we could grab a coffee sometime. Although, I must confess, I would be a Sam Adams person. I might reconsider if I had company sharing "girly drinks!"
Thank you, Joseph!
I have given up on trying to become ‘a better man, an alpha, or even a beta (think that’s just a small fish). Instead I’m trying to become a wiser one. Louise Penney, in one of her mysteries, says the four things that lead to wisdom are to learn to say, and mean:
1. I don’t know
2. I need help
3. I’m sorry
4. I was wrong
I think it works for however you identify.
Thank you for another beautifully stated idea.
the alpha is a prototype and usually needs refurbished before it is useful anyway.
🩷 Sharing with the men in my life.
Absolutely love this! 💯
You sound like Sheila (and Keith) Grégoire here.
That's a compliment.
Love this. Anyone can flex, but masculinity is more than peacocking.
When it comes to male inequality, society needs to juggle not just physical masculinity, but the spiritual.
You would appreciate this: https://open.substack.com/pub/thomasobrien/p/the-church-impotent-westerners-without?r=1wocq8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Wolf packs are matriarchal. The alpha is a female.