Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father’s Day

Does anyone notice how hard it can be to be a man?
There is little freedom in the customary expectations to protect and provide.
What if the man doesn’t feel strong or capable of protecting?
He may be ridiculed for being a coward, weak, a sissy.

While women have emancipated themselves with “women’s liberation” movement, men are stuck.
Men have grown up in a world that expects them to be the one person women and children rely on.
Women have taken time to explore, understand and listen to themselves and their own needs.
Men have been busy doing their job as has been defined, and when they cannot, they feel inadequate.

Let’s thank all the men who are doing their best to take care of their perceived needs to provide.
Let us think of our Fathers and sons and forefathers who did their best to protect and provide for us.
Let’s appreciate those who had the courage to go for safety, security and provision.
Let us be inspired by those who were creative and visionaries, inventors and peacemakers.

Let’s forgive the fathers and sons who were afraid, limited, self critical, angry and ignorant.
Let’s forgive the men who today have not grown up to take full responsibility for their families.
Let’s forgive the boys who pretend to be capable, but are lacking in inspiration and motivation.
Let’s forgive ourselves for not providing the nurturing and nourishing, direction and appreciation needed.

Fathers and sons, husbands and male leaders, have not  been well appreciated or valued. 
We are in the position to learn how best to love them into being the best they can be.
We are able to give men respite and encouragement to seek for their own vision and healing.
We, the culture of consciousness, can provide the support for men to choose again for their Best.

There is a culture of lost, conflicted or unconscious masculine energy (in male and female bodies) who do not have vision, purpose, direction, wisdom and inspiration to provide for their families at the highest level of well-being, ethically and morally as well as physically and emotionally.
When we have an epidemic of addiction, violence, bullying, drop outs, welfare, laziness and lack of integrity in our homes and workplaces, society is crying for the emergence of respect, responsibility and cooperation among all peoples in all cultures and circumstances.
When we look to sports figures and pop stars as our role models, we have lost the awareness of our ideals.
When our culture is consumed with getting more and giving less, we have retreated into mediocrity.

Consider what it would take for you and me to create a higher ideal, a safe world of love and peace,.
Consider how we can begin in our homes and communities to turn off the TV and internet and relate.
Consider what would happen if we began to treat each encounter as one of healing and encouragement.
Consider if you, the reader, can do the job with our own men and boys, to teach and demonstrate Love.

I love and admire my Dad.  
I know he did what he believed was the job of a man: he protected and provided for us.
He learned from my Mom how to volunteer and contribute to his community and the world.
He was willing to grow in consciousness, in faith, in following the highest ideals in life.
My Dad was true to his values and his vision of bringing more peace and happiness into this world.

I love and admire my husband.
He treats all beings as equal.
He contributes to family and community and our world with the fullness of his vision and guidance.
He continues to grow in consciousness and faith, and to renew his dedication to the highest ideals.
He supports us all with his devotion of time and energy, love and respect, while being fully responsible.

There are few men who have vision and direction for their themselves, their families and career.
While we continue to expect men to protect and provide, there is a need for men to find a more conscious and inspired way of living, teaching, guiding and modeling.
Let us commit to facilitate, inspire, encourage and support men in freeing and trusting themselves.
Let us encourage men to take impeccable care of themselves mentally, physical and spiritually.

My Dad was good. 
In another time, he would have been Great!
I believe with conscious nurturing all men can be Great!
Loving all the Dads everywhere, no matter what.
Betty Lue