DAILY RECOVERY READINGS FOR MEN

[MajestyJo]

Thursday, August 29, 2013

You are reading from the book Touchstones

To be a man means to be a fellow man.
—Leo Baeck

Sometimes we become overburdened with frustration and disappointment in our lives. When we turn inward and focus only on our problems, we may be cutting ourselves off from the healing effect of contact with others. Today, there may be a new group member who would appreciate a phone call from us. Perhaps we could visit an aged person or someone who is sick. Help is always needed in providing food to the hungry. Perhaps a co-worker would welcome our assistance on a task or errand.

When we help others, we affirm our solidarity with them in their stress and suffering. We don't give help because we are better or without problems of our own, but because we suffer too. When we act as fellowmen, the comradeship and human contact we get provide us with as much help as we give. They liberate us from our own oppressive egos and make us see we are worthwhile men.

I affirm myself as a man when I stand in solidarity with others and help them in their need.

Sometimes we can forget that we have a masculine and feminine side and we need to balance them, or one may be languishing and needs nourishment. Masculine is our survivor side and the feminine is the comforting and caring part of us. Old tapes can be killers, we don`t want to seem whoosy and other hand, if you are like me, I am not the frills and fussy kind of person. I had a friend tell me I dressed too butchy, and a meditation card told me my female side was languishing.