Several weeks ago the New York Times Magazine had an article about the number of men now taking testosterone to boost their – well, let’s be polite, and call it masculinity, boosting muscle development among other features. Seems to go along with the imagined threats some men feel to their idea of masculinity.
Eighty-two years ago today, more than150,000 Allied troops, men of courage and determination, landed on beaches in France to take on the Nazi scourge that had destroyed Europe. They knew many would die, but went on anyway. They were men who didn’t have shots or pills but faith in their cause.
The threats that some men feel is truly sad, for it speaks to old deep-seated fears that at times breaks out in violence not only against women but against those who are outside their perceived group. I know I write this as a woman, but it seems to me that equality should not threaten men or true masculinity
Prayer for the Day
O God, who calls us to be instruments of your peace,
We acknowledge that we look to rules instead of love;
Open us to your spirit of reconciling love,
And wash away from us anger, envy, and jealousy.
So we are healed by your grace in our lives
And knit together in community.
In the name of the One who teaches us to live with grace,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
Thoughts for the Day
Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for
Ronald Reagan, 1984 D-Day speech (1911-2004)
Why should men be constrained by antiquated stereotypes of masculinity. What does it mean to “Be a Real Man” anyway? Shouldn’t we all be celebrating a wide range of definitions of manhood?
Andy Dunn, American entrepreneur
So God created humankind in the image of God,
In the image of God humankind was created,
Male and female they were created by God.
Genesis 1: 27