Quiet Desperation
If you look at the Men’s Ministries section of my chuch’s bulletin, you’ll see the Businessmen’s Luncheon. I’ve been attending for three years, and the notice has never changed. Our Sunday School class for ‘young married couples’ has Mommy’s Day Out.
We lived 1,500 miles from my father when my son was born. Now it’s 400, but we still don’t talk about what it means to be a father. Then again, I don’t ask.
A visit by poet Robert Bly prompts Bob Welch of the Oregon Register-Guard to ask: ‘Whatever happened to the men’s movement?’
‘Now, the drums and stadiums have largely grown silent. But for all the humor spun from the men-as-drum-beating-warriors theme, the movement brought to light a need we should take seriously. “Most men,” wrote Thoreau, “live lives of quiet desperation.”‘
October 16th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
This reminded me of a story I heard on the radio. The announcer was asking why at his Church was Mother’s Day all about give thanks to the Mothers with flowers and blessings and Fathers Day always seemed to be a lecture to Fathers about stepping up to be good husbands and Fathers. Is it assumed that Fathers are always slacking in their duty?