A couple of years ago I started rolling around this idea of a rite of passage in my head. I figured when Wil became early teens that this might be something exciting for him to do. I started talking to a couple of buddies of mine who thought it was a good idea as well. Well good ideas are exactly that, good ideas, we talk about them but how often do we act on them, and how many of them just sit on the shelves of our minds? This idea was no different, I shelved it. I would dust it off every now and then and check it out and talk about it, but it would go rite back in its place. Finally this summer I got to thinking that I better start doing some research on this idea so that I don't just throw this thing together that's "cool" but spiritually meaningless. I've done allot of "cool" things in my life but if there is no purpose in it, it just fades like another fun memory. This I promised my self would be different.
Research! Yep I went straight to the internet and plugged in "Christian Boys Rite of Passage", the results were less than what I expected. Having said that I found enough to help me get started. Dr Vern Poythress had written an article entitled "How I Have Helped My Boys to Become Christian Men". THANK YOU DOC! This man has a good plan based off the Jewish Bar Mitzvah, instead he does what he calls a Bar Jeshua (Son of Jesus). My only complaint is that there is no "Crucible" (for you Marines out there), no physical or natural manifestation of the great outdoors involving some sweat, blood (just a little) and tears. Don't get me wrong, what he did is great, I'm just wired a little differently, I need the fusion of the great spiritual truths of Biblical Manhood, and the great outdoors for that perfect adventure. I suggest that you look up his article and read it, it gave me the direction to make this experience meaningful, and not just another crazy camping trip.
Well sorry I've gotta run. I'll post more later on.
I read the good doctor's article. Sounds a lot like Robert Lewis' book "Raising a Modern Day Knight." I don't understand a few of the points, and charging a 14-year-old for rent and utilities, etc. seems quite challenging. One thing is, Dr. Poythress did say that they're sons were being raised with this as the understanding. For those of us with older sons, we're going to have to expedite some of those challenges and then ease some of the changes into place. I like your point that we need to customize and personalize this approach and know why we're doing what we're doing it. I don't feel like a strong enough man or Christian to pull this off. Guess I'd better do some of my own research and pray, hard. Peace for now. I appreciate your efforts here, Joe.
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