Do You Know Any Dead Men?

I suppose there are abundant reasons why a person might choose to start a blog. To be honest, I don't think much of blogs. They seem kind of boring compared to the other online networking tools out there which seem far superior in entertainment value. But, for the time being, this is what we have to work with. Why this blog? I'm not sure. But let me see if I can bring you up to speed on the social developments which have resulted in this endeavor.

I am a person who has struggled with a lot of, shall we say, personal obstacles. Or to quote the pastor of my small but great church community, I might call these obstacles "hurts, habits, and hangups". I enjoy writing. I don't seem to be the only one either. Other people seem to have enjoyed my writing on occasion. So a few years ago I shared with some guys the idea of writing in a more deliberate and purposeful way. I guess if I really had it my way (and I rarely do), I would love to see a greater collection of literature out there for our contemporary world that communicates a greater vision of manhood and masculinity. If I were a thirty year old man in today's American culture, and hypothetically I was completely ignorant of what it meant to be one, I may pick up some masculine publications to research what American manhood is supposed to look like. There are a handful of men's magazines out there that you are probably already aware of. If I were to use these magazines as my primary source of information, I think I would determine these statistics: 10% of manhood is about working out, following sports, and looking as amazingly sexy as my body can possibly manage. Another 10% of manhood should be directed towards becoming a power player in my career, willing and able to do all that is necessary to climb to the top of the success ladder. The remaining 80% of my being should be geared toward sex, obtaining it, perfecting it, and getting it as often as possible.

So you're telling me that, as a man in today's America, my purpose for living is looks, power & achievement, and sex? I suppose that success in these areas would be fun, and I would certainly have a lot to work on. But I don't really believe that these three endeavors tap into some of the deeper desires of a man. What about honor? What about our instinctive desire to defend and protect? What about the romantic part buried deep inside of all of us that wishes to be the knight in shining armor for some epic beauty, and to rescue her heart rather than simply bed her?

The vision of Dead Man Rising may not appeal to men who simply wish to achieve the cover spot on GQ Magazine. But, for some men out there in the world, perhaps there can be a way to explore that deeper quest that seems to have been planted into the core of our desires. Do you want to explore it? Would you make a contribution in writing? Would you make a contribution of your time? Would you make a contribution of your heart in exploring the possibility that there is more out of life then what we have all been told? If so, then keep checking back. I would love to have your listening ear, and your voice as well.