Day Forty Two – April 10, 2010

It may look like a number of days have elapsed, but in fact it has only been two since I last made a note. In the past month and a half, if I missed a day of discussion I did not note it, I simply continued with the next day. Day 42 reflects that it has been 42 days since I started the journey of intentionality.

Yesterday and today were phenomenal days. When I started this year of living intentionally, one of my goals was to create a gathering of men. This weekend was the inaugural gathering of a new order of men. It was a thrilling experience.

A few months ago I mentioned to two friends, Bruce and Wayne Middendorf, that I wanted to do a men’s weekend. I knew that both of them would be interested and we checked their schedules to find a weekend that would work for the three of us. About a month ago my son, Tyler, and I began to formula the strategy for the weekend. The chemistry of putting it together with Tyler was quite energizing.

Our goal was very simple – create a new cross generational society of men committed to intellectual and spiritual curiosity, positive accountability, and inspiring each other to do great things.

On Friday evening 11 men met for supper and discussion to outline our vision for the group and get feedback from the group. The group ranged in age from 21 to almost 60. Tyler created a great lasagna, so one of the major ingredients – food – was off to a good start. Tyler and I outlined our desire to create a group that would foster honest discussion, mutual support, positive accountability, and inspiration for great action. We both shared our thoughts about the importance of intergenerational adult male community and the power that we all bring to the group.

We knew Friday evening that we were on the right track. We finished at 9:15 and people continued to talk until 9:45.

Today fifteen gathered at 9:00 for breakfast. Patty cooked sweet potato biscuits, which were officially designated a permanent part of future gatherings. The format for the day was simple. A short presentation related to the man journey would be followed by small group discussion. Each presentation would be accompanied by a set of discussion questions, so the discussion would be focused and intentional.

I spoke on the hero’s journey from Joseph Campbell’s book, Hero with a Thousand Faces. Loyd Allen, who teaches spiritual formation and church history at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, spoke on Male Spirituality. The level of honesty and openness in the group was very refreshing. I have been in a number of group experiences in the past 40 years, but this was the most refreshing, honest, open, and encouraging that I can remember.

To a person, there was excitement about being a part of a group of men committed to building a new community that would inspire all of us to become more of the person we were created to be.

At the conclusion we talked about how to keep the process moving forward. I left thankful that my journey has shifted from simply an inward journey, focused just on me, to include an outward element that brings adult men of all ages together.

It was inspirational to me.