Have you heard the quote "All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing” and wondered how that may apply to you)? Well, I’ve pondered that quote this last week and jotted down the following.
- Too often, we men have good intentions but are distracted by the challenges unfolding in our lives.
- It is easier to be doing the best we can, then by getting involved in those things outside of our focus.
- “I’m a good man and father” or “It’s not my problem” often is our response.
I’m not trying to guilt anyone by the above, just trying to share some words and to encourage you in joining me. How? This last week I took a few minutes to review what I’ve been doing, all the juggling, etc in my life. Oversimplified, I like most of you, have a lot of irons in the fire but at least for me, I saw I was not making the progress I wanted. So, with Spring unfolding, why not now and why not me? I’m now going to be working each week to set a plan for what I need to get done and what progress I want to make on the things that I want to achieve. Then as each week unfolds, I’ll check off those actions that are completed, I’ll verify the progress on the projects unfolding and as needed, will add to my plans as the surprises of life unfold.
As for you, if you would like to get on track and out of the ‘just plugging away’ status, first consider the following (it is a summary of the Seven Decisions information shared a few weeks back). After that, see my closing words below and then you decide what is best for your next steps.
His website, books, materials, pod casts, etc are resources you may wish to consider
(that print is ©2009-2014 Andy Andrews. Used by Permission. Originally posted on AndyAndrews.com).
On our resources tab, we have links to other websites that may be of interest to. If you are in our area, there is going to be this upcoming May 2nd. 3rd and 4th (Fri, Sat & Sun), “Success That Matters” seminar.
Hosted bt the Log Church REAL Men at Trout Lake Camp. This “Man in the Mirror” focused 3 day seminar is an invitation to all men who have you been thinking… There’s got to be more to life than this!
So how then does all the above tie back into the words "You didn't try not to" (by OMR)? I shared those words repeatedly with my kids when they were little, to hopefully trigger the thought and challenge within themselves, to not just react to life, but to engage it, to plan, to pursue, to learn, to adjust, etc. etc. It breaks my heart when I see and hear of another youth or young adult do some violence to others. What happened? Are their parents to blame? In some cases, no but in others, probably yes - to some degree. I now know that those words apply to me now, just as well as for anyone. What are we trying to do? It is not just thinking of doing something, it is moving from thought to action to results and if needed, reset and redo again.
It is too bad that it is so easy to father a child but very challenging to be the Dad, the good father that the child needs to have. I encourage all Dads - please make sure you're not ignoring what needs to be done by you, for your kids. It doesn't matter if their 2, 8, 14, 21 or even older. Once a Dad, always a Dad.
If you are not a Christian, do the best you can to learn, teach and love your children For us Christians, we know our Father in heaven has given us the Bible to help teach us and his Holy Spirit to guide us. It is up to us to pursue and remember: Proverbs 1:2-7, ”To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”