In Chicago, Australia and other Crucible communities across the world, we are honoring Chris Cleghorn’s services to this growing tribe of 4,500-plus men … and now women. On a recent sunny day, Chris, the former Executive Director of The Crucible Project, and I enjoyed a cool breeze and coffee outside of a Starbucks in the … Continued
Jul
26
When it comes to life, what half are you living in? Noted Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung popularized the notion of the two halves of life by saying “the first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego,” and “the second half is going inward and letting go of it.” Here’s how I’m thinking … Continued
Jul
19
I recently saw the movie “A Star Is Born” (Warning: Spoilers ahead) and it made a big impact on me. The film focuses on the relationship between two musicians: A rock star named Jackson Maine and his wife Alli, whom he discovers and encourages to pursue her talents and dreams. Tortured Soul Jackson is a … Continued
Jul
12
We live in a “Now this” world. In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman points to this thought as he references our nightly news. The anchor describes a bus full of children going off a cliff and many are killed. We have 30 seconds or less to consider this tragedy and then, “Now … Continued
If you’re like me, you could put together a list of people who over the years have disappointed you. On your list may be superficial interactions like a store clerk who was rude, a neighbor who wouldn’t return borrowed tools or a friend who drifted away over the years. It may also include those who … Continued
Jun
28
When I was a toddler, my mother taught me a little bedtime prayer: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. I’m still not sure what it was about the thought of dying in the middle … Continued
Jun
21
I Recently, I was a part of a circle of men where a man was praying for the group. He was thanking God for making us “better” men, which took me aback somewhat. Surprised by my reaction, I thought to myself “Better? What does that even mean?” “It’s not about being better,” I asked myself. … Continued
Jun
14
I like my comfort. I don’t like admitting that, but it is true. I literally work to keep things comfortable. I feel like there is some irony there … Maybe there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable. But, you might have picked up that I hold a judgment of myself for living in and working for … Continued
I’ve picked up a new hobby, recently. Baking bread. It’s creative, relaxing, and brings me joy. Part of the process is casting yeast into the dough. Just a minute amount of yeast kneaded through the dough allows it to rise and multiply. Jesus compared yeast to the Kingdom of God in Matthew 13. Like yeast, … Continued
May
17
Several weeks ago a man complained to me about how negative his group is — men constantly checking in sad, angry and scared, working on places where they are unhappy with their lives. At first, I resisted this man’s viewpoint and found myself saying, “Yeah, but these men are simply being honest.” Men’s honesty is … Continued