It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
These last few weeks, heaviness has descended upon me and tested my fighting endurance. I have wanted to let the critic’s voices own my will and purpose so the arena can claim me as another victim. But I refused to let go of who I desire to be because my days are weary. Yet, through my purpose, I find the strength to reengage the fight, so my roots grow deep. In this season, I must strengthen my courage to become a strong man in will and character.
Life has seasons that ebb and flows with many emotions, which stir our heart, mind, and soul. During periods of celebration is where we seek rest and gratitude.
Enjoy the moments that feed your heart and soul
To savor the presence of our most cherished people as to watch in awe the sunset on a warm summer eve holding hands with our treasured love. To enjoy the coolness of the water, snowflakes tickling our noses, listening to others tell stories of adventure, and delight in the flavors of food.
Yet, we still stand as sentries for attacks that could come as a blindside, maintaining a fully connected life to those we love. These are the seasons we can hear our hearts truly sing.
Then there is that phone call, email, conversation, and moment that brings darkness, brokenness, grief, and heaviness to our lives. In these moments, we need to throw off all that encumbers and activate our inner warrior to embrace the difficulty of the season. We, me, you need to learn to fully engage in life even when it’s strenuous to crawl out of bed. To own our purpose and markers laid out before us gives us something to hold onto and anchor ourselves in such times.
It’s through the trials that we find depth of our will
In this season of struggle, gratitude, peace, and vulnerability are mindsets we are to seek. In a grateful attitude, you begin to see these painful times as a process of personal growth. By experiencing peace to ground us even as the storm threatens to rip our lives apart. Being vulnerable enables us to seek the connection and strength of others to help carry our burden. In this wearisome and stormy season, we build resilience and find our grit.
As men who seek to find an authentic life, we must maintain a warrior perspective in every season we journey through. This perspective is preserved by having the hope and purpose that is our North Star. Fighting without cause or purpose will bring defeat and sedation to our life. What do you want for your life? Who is the man you desire to be? Start writing down your true heart desires that are part of your created self. Listen to your heart and voice to begin to discover who you are.
“A warrior has personal responsibility for their actions within themselves and towards others”
Being a warrior is about using your courage to keep on fighting for your heart and soul even when faced with tremendous odds. It’s about developing grit in the coldest and harshest circumstances. It’s also about being vulnerable to those closest people you love. To have strength under control to protect and honor those in your life. A warrior has personal responsibility for their actions within themselves and toward others. How you respond to those around you is your choice. You are ready to fight when needed and have discernment when to act.
Failure can be the greatest fear of a man. We have somehow believed the lie that our actions always produce positive results. If those results are lacking, then we don’t measure up to being enough. Fear then sets us back into sedation of what works for us. We can still produce and not fail, but it’s at a low quality of life. You stay in jobs because the benefits are good, and you are miserable in your position. You don’t learn a new skill set because you are fearful that it won’t work out. It’s easier to stay in your comfort zone and make excuses than expand and grow.
“Do not judge me by my successes; judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
Nelson Mandela
You must be willing to step out and try even when faced with the possibility of failure. If you do fail, then you have a decision of staying down or getting back up. My failures have given me opportunities to examine why I failed and learn from them. There have been consequences to my failures that have made my journey more difficult. It is through this struggle that you gain strength and fortitude to continue in the fight. But through these practices, I can be the man I am writing this blog.
We cannot do this on our own; we need others to help refine and challenge us. You can shadowbox all day and win every time, but developing growth happens with another person. Stepping inside the ring and sparing with a brother is how you learn your blind spots and weaknesses. Your strength will only take you so far, it’s having connections to others that take you to a higher level, and then there’s the spiritual.
My completeness comes from being attached to the vine of my Creator. I need to draw from the endless pool of strength, wisdom, and love bestowed on me. Because I have a divine nature, my fullness comes from being connected to my Redeemer and responding to the Spirit. Without this, my life is only partly expressed and fulfilled. It’s through the Creator and in the Sustainer, I am fully known and loved. No matter what may happen in my life, I have peace with the Spirit. I am loved, cared for, and cherished.
Reading this makes it seem easy and logical to replicate in your life. Walking my journey has given me some of the richest and most profound experiences in my life, which cannot be fully expressed in written form. It has been some of the most laborious work I have done. Choosing to be a man of integrity and authenticness requires a commitment to fighting for your purpose and a willingness to get back into the arena after failures. This blog is to help encourage you to walk your journey before you and know your story. We are never alone in our life and have others around us to bring encouragement and support. You have a life worth fighting for, which can shine as a beacon of purpose and hope for others.
Rebuilding the Heart of Man 