Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

FALSE MASCULINITY

“As a young boy, I’ m going to compare my athletic ability to yours and compete for whatever attention that brings. When I get older, I’m going to compare my girlfriend to yours and compete for whatever status I can acquire by being with the prettiest or the coolest or the best girl I can get. Ultimately, as adults, we compare bank accounts and job titles, houses and cars, and we compete for the amount of security and power that those represent. We will even compare our children and compete for some sense of fatherhood and significance attached to their achievements.
We compare, we compete. That’s all we ever do. It leaves most men feeling isolated and alone. And it destroys any concept of community.

The typical male over the age of thirty-five has what psychologists would say is less than one genuine friend, not even one person, on average, with whom he can reveal his true self and share his deepest, most intimate thoughts.”

Excerpt From: Marx, Jeffrey. “Season of Life.”

Opening Day for 41:10

The 41:10 Fellowship got together Saturday night to play a version of the Newlywed Game, although every couple has been married anywhere from 20 years to 30+ years. Memories were hazy, but all the couples found more hits than misses.

Around good protein, cake and ice cream, Ross led the discussion as to where and what the group should be about. Steve brought up a good template- canvassing the couples for the 3 biggest issues/questions for God at this stage of life. After looking over the questions, Ross & Karen will choose a topic, send it out to everyone so each person can meditate, think through, and have something of substance to bring to our Saturday night.

Steve shared when we encounter God (and many times those encounters can be painful), change takes place. Jacob, Abraham, and Moses were some examples as Jacob wrestled with God and had his hip dislocated; Abraham was about to sacrifice his son; Moses heard God in a terrifying way: a burning bush. Those encounters crystallized their identity (they knew who they were), their identity in God, and most importantly, who God is/was.

For our own children, there is great joy when their encounters with God are their's alone. Not living off our encounters, but truly encountering God as they walk with Him on their own steam. Yet, we are not done in our own growth and encounters with God are necessary for continued revelation of Him and our identity in Him.

Our next time together is scheduled for March 12th.