The Past is the Past, Live for Today
There’s a young couple that I know that inspired this post. They know who they are. The idea came up the other day when speaking to them, that although her past was rocky and riddled with struggle, pain and sin, that he is strong enough, as a man, to move beyond what happened in her past. He is being a TrueMan. She is striving for holiness and he sees that. He encourages her, builds her up, helps her to know that she is great and a wonderful daughter of God the Father. He is encouraged and challenged by her lifestyle, and that makes him better. He realizes that her mistakes of the past are overcome by Christ’s sacrifice. Although the emotional baggage can be difficult to work through, he knows it is well worth the fight. His response could be much different.
Instead of being so loving, understanding and positive, he could choose to react harshly. He could choose to end the relationship. He could choose to be mean, hurtful and condescending. If this was the method he took, he would be forgetting his own brokenness. He would be forgetting the fact that he, as well as she and everyone else, needs the power of Confession and forgiveness from Christ.
I challenge all of my readers to take some time to think about your perspective of today. Is today’s behavior based on mistakes from the past? Are you unable to move forward because of pain from past choices? Do you try to live today in order to right the wrongs from the past? Is the past guiding your today too strongly?
Do you forget about today because of the promise of tomorrow? Do you have an unhealthy assurance that you’ll be alive tomorrow? Do your daily actions, choices, words and thoughts warrant Heaven as a reward of a good and faithful servant? These questions, and so many more, are important. Our attitude is a vital part to our lifestyle.
If we see the past as “fixable”, or today as a waste, or tomorrow as the only thing to live for, then we are missing the boat. We’re called to holiness in every moment of today. This moment may be our last, so we must live it to the full. The past is the past, live for today.
Man up!
Control Your Emotions
I’ve realized, lately, that I often tell my oldest daughter, who is now a new two year old, to control her emotions. Some might think that it’s over the top and too advanced for a child her age, I disagree. I’m trying to convey to her, in a time of an emotional up-and-down, that she has the ability and the power to control her actions in regards to her emotional status. Sometimes she immediately changes her behavior, other times she doesn’t. The realization that I’ve had is that most adults can’t do this simple task.
Emotions are highly overrated and, when used in decision making, volatile. I’m thinking back to several encounters (some of which I have posted about on this site) that I’ve had with adult men over the past several months. The regular and recurring theme between many of the encounters that have gone badly is that the man couldn’t control his emotions. He allowed his emotions (regardless of what they might be) to get the better of him. It’s a shame, really.
By allowing your emotions to be in control, you are saying that your brain isn’t strong enough or smart enough or formed enough (etc) to make a change. I know better than that. Your brain is capable of being in charge and putting your emotion in their right and ordered place. Try it next time… when you’re frustrated in traffic, relax, be a gentleman and keep on. When you get bad service at the restaurant, remain calm, let it roll away – you can still demand customer service, simply do it in the right way. When someone mistreats you, act out of charity… stand firm in the truth and remain vigilant for justice. When you disagree with your spouse, put her needs first, even when it means that you won’t get your way – be a servant-leader. No matter what the situation, you have the ability to control your emotions. I guarantee you, without a doubt, that you’ll like yourself much more and other people will like and respect you more.
Man up!
Scandalous Commercial – Bad Manning
Have you seen the new Peyton Manning, DirecTV – NFL Sunday Ticket Commercial? I saw it today. Blah. The commercial has Manning not “manning up” but instead, giving into the all-mighty-endorsement-deal-dollar – and NOT being anything even remotely close to a TrueMan. I used to have so much more respect for him. The commercial is supposed to be about watching football, and seeing every game on NFL Sunday Ticket, in HD. Yet, there isn’t a single scene of a football player, play, ball or locker room. The entire commercial is scenes of scantily clad cheerleaders strutting around, doing high kicks and bouncing up and down.
Manning has the opportunity to endorse lots of products, and some of his endorsements have been great. (Most of his commercial spots are hilarious.) What I don’t understand is why Manning, and society in general, thinks that it’s okay to objectify women by showing them in this manner? I fault the cheerleaders for objectifying themselves, but they’re only doing what appears to be glamorous by society’s standards. I want to call to action the men involved; if men step up, women will gladly follow suit. That means Peyton, the men at DirecTV, men watching that network and men reading this post.
Come on Peyton. Did you have to stoop to this level? Why didn’t you say, “There’s no football in this commercial.”? Why didn’t you say, “Nope, I won’t make sexual innuendos, they’re unnecessary. People will lose respect for me.” You didn’t. Next time, man up.
How does this affect the rest of us? How do we make a change? By starting in the home, then branching out to schools, work and in the public arena, men who hold women to a higher level of respect must first stand up to this sort of societal objectification of women. Be strong, stand firm. Your example will challenge others and will change hearts. Once a man has truly cherished a woman, in a manner most fitting within God’s plan, he’ll realize the importance of his actions. Men, we can make the difference. Change starts with you. Do it today.
Man up!
AFA Football Video
I love my job. I have the distinct pleasure of serving the great young men and women of the Air Force Academy as the Catholic Campus Minister. This video shows a glimpse into the real importance of the Air Force Academy as an institution, not just the football tradition. Leadership, Integrity, Courage, Strength, Compassion, Force, Humility, Determination… all great characteristics of a TrueMan. Go Falcons!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-8z1LLVh3s]
Man up!
The Dangers of Texting and Driving
This doesn’t have any direct correlation with this site, but it’s vital to stop this madness. Don’t drive and do anything, just drive. Be safe. Disclaimer – this video, which was created by a police department in Wales, is very graphic and detailed. Don’t shy away from watching it, just be aware. Save a life.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NiZBNNztl0]
Back to Campus
With most schools starting recently (or soon), I thought it would be good to address some issues about how a TrueMan behaves on campus. A college campus, as we all know, can be a hostile place for an ardent follower of Christ. It can be a treacherous minefield of explosive situations, abusive and vulgar language, uncomfortable environments and disagreements with unbelievers. In order to deal with these difficult issues, here are a couple suggestions.
- Be yourself. If you love and serve God, don’t be ashamed of it. Live it out, your witness will come through – people will want what you have.
- Don’t give in to negative peer pressure. Negative peer pressure is stupid… Real friends don’t force you into bad situations and surely don’t lead you into sin. We call these people “nasty friends”. If you’ve got ’em, get rid of ’em. Don’t ruin your life holding on to people who are ruining theirs.
- If you are struggling, and think that you’ve got it bad or that you’re really suffering for the increase of the Kingdom, read about St Paul in 2 Corinthians 11/12. That’s some good perspective, huh?!
- There’s a big difference between being a strong Catholic man who stands for something good as compared to a “culturally manly” guy who wants the “glamorous” lifestyle of money, power, women and stuff. College campus life increases these bad desires exponentially.
- Many women on your college campus won’t understand the chivalry you extend to them. Do it anyway, with charity and a smile. Be a radical change on your campus.
- Being a Man of God doesn’t mean you can’t have anything to drink, or that you can’t go to any parties. It means that you put yourself in good situations, that point you towards heaven and you act in moderation and with prudence. Remember, Jesus hung out with sinners, but not when they were sinning.
- Strive for excellence in all things. Start by being sober and chaste. If you conquer these two areas, you’re well on your way.
- As much as it seems untrue, women don’t want to marry the dirtball, drunkard, C-minus-student types. They want a gentleman, a man who’s going to provide for them, a man who loves them and shows their love by respecting them and by being self-sacrificing. They want a man who is going to be a great dad and a hard worker. There’s nothing wrong with stacking the deck on this topic! Put all the cards in your favor from the get-go!
All in all, college is a great time for a young man. Live it up. Enjoy it. In all things, be focused on Christ, live virtue and especially, live joy.
Man up!
No Matter What
I just came across this sweet video on CatholicMountain.com. Check it out.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4gvOYp5wEE]
I don’t know many of the stories of these men, although the few that I do know are incredible. Read the stories of the lives of these saints and surely you will be invigorated to give all you have, no matter what.
Man up!
