Step into the Boat

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” - Psalm 133:1

 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” - Hebrews 3:12-13

 Vulnerability, weakness ... risk. Why do I choose these words?

Why do we, as men, too often think if something or someone is broken, within or around us and those we love, that we can just find a manual or a YouTube video and fix it?

How hard is it to admit we are vulnerable? Do we fear we do not quite measure up to our own expectations ... or those of our family, our workplace ... our Lord? Do we lead our families, have a full prayer life, spend time in His word? How many of us can name one or two male friends to whom we can lay bare our souls? Do we even risk looking that deeply and insightfully?

I was convicted when I asked these difficult questions of myself during and after last year’s LH Men’s Retreat. I have yet to find a video on YouTube that will fix what is broken in me. I fall short, too often, of who and where I think I should be in this life. That’s where His rescuing grace and mercy arrive.

We’re often together in the same boat as the disciples were in a storm-tossed Galilee, as related in the Gospels. This life is oftentimes storm-tossed. They were anxious and imperiled, afraid and uncertain. Christ awoke from sleep, questioned them of their faith, and spoke calm to the raging waves. He is there for us today as He was for his disciples.

Reach out to your brother, take a risk and be vulnerable, admit your weakness. Trust. I did and began to share my brokenness and lostness with a buddy of mine. It wasn’t easy. He didn’t duck or judge. And our friendship since has truly deepened, becoming what it could not have been prior.

 Have faith ...  exhort one another ... dwell in unity …  

Step into the boat at the LH Men’s Retreat. Look to Him, and each other, for strength and calm.

- Scott Lageman