Fathering

Early this morning I recieved a voice text from a young man in whose life I have been involved for over 25 years.

Interestingly enough, we met by way of a Tony Robbins conference, though I was not in attendance. As I am told, this young sales professional had serendipitously interacted with a former childhood friend during a break in the schedule.

Why was this moment unlikely, the meeting as I recall, was in Hawaii and this young man had flown in from Dubai. My childhood friend with a whom I had recently been reintroduced (another great story) had stepped out into the courtyard of the conference facility to ponder Robbins' words.

As the two shared a mutual conflict given their spiritual moorings, my friend said something like, "You remind me of a man from my hometown."

When asked of the location, both were shocked to realize that when in the USA, this young man visiting from Dubai, though originally from the High Point,NC, would occasionally attend WSFirst, the church I was then affiliated with.

His next stop would be the 1997 (?) Promise Keeper's Million Man gathering in Washington, DC.. This time I was there, standing among a group of men from WSFirst, when heard someone behind me ask, "Where can I find John Bost?"

You can't make this stuff up!

From that moment on, we have shared many special life-seasons together.

His morning message of gratitude for my mentorship stirred my heart, one so timely as you will soon understand.

His message, and our history together has again served to reinforce a growing focus upon the next season of my life. One less engaged in real estate, nonprofit boards, even the church, but moreso a time of giving audience to next gen individuals.

As providence would have it, another young man who has become dear to my life, had recently provided a copy of a book, "Iron John" by Robert Bly which addresses "what it is to be a man." Bly reinforces the benefits of male initiation and "fathering," the absence of which I believe is the source of a growing desire, no a mandate for mentorship in the marketplace, certainly among males. Women seem more naturally able to nurture each other.

From my life experience in discerning seasonal direction, timing of inputs has always served as validation.

Each season has seemed divinely reinforced by my 50 year discipline in the scriptures. My current read being one of my favorites, the Book of Daniel.

His ability to interface with the most powerful of leaders, while yet never abandoning his "homeboys" (the three Hebrews providentially kidnapped alongside himself) has always served to challenge my own life. Mind you, I am also aware that his life was not without peril, be that fiery furnaces or lions' dens!

His secret sauce: Daniel seemed always ahead of his time in terms of vision and purpose. This is reflected even in the sequence of his writings. Case in point, when reading Chapter 8, one realizes that the prophecy detailed was revealed to him long before it unfolded via the "handwriting on the wall", as presented earlier in Chapter 5.

Is there a place for such boldness in today's bizarre political morass? Is there a responsibility I bear to the next generation, perpetuating a hunger for truth and righteousness as remedy in such maddening times?

Yes, and this morning has made me more aware, at a time when I could easily retire and "chill out" until my days are expired!

God knows I'm open and humbly available by His grace!