Community Forum http://mnmales.org/community/ This is the place for our community members to join the conversation. en Copyright 2008 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:33:25 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2ysb5-20051201 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Craig's thoughts from the North Country ]]> http://mnmales.org/community/2008/04/craigs_thoughts_from_the_north.html http://mnmales.org/community/2008/04/craigs_thoughts_from_the_north.html Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:33:25 +0000 ROP Check In here! Men who have expeienced a ROP are invited to use the comment option for this entry to check in.

Share your name and when and where you experienced your ROP.

Add anything you would like to share about your life since your ROP. 

]]> http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/rop_check_in_here.html http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/rop_check_in_here.html Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:13:40 +0000 Where have all the M.A.L.Es. Gone?


WHERE HAVE ALL THE M.A.L.E.S. GONE?

Guys, I want your feedback. Is my question true for you? For anyone?

A number of us are noticing that the ROP is great and guys leave all fired up. But when we get home, the community building phase, of becoming a leaven for all men and for sharing with young men, doesn’t seem to be happening, al least not in this part of the USA. Men’s groups are few and far between. Large group events are poorly attended. Maybe individuals are nourishing themselves with prayer, reading, websites, one-on-one visits over coffee or beer. But the community forming ain’t visible.

Demands from family and work are surely a factor, and these must be honored. Perhaps there are as many reasons as there are individuals, all of them understandable. But still, . . .

One possible reason has not yet been named. And, if this is real and widespread, M.A.L.E.S. needs to address the challenge. . .

If M.A.L.E.S. is anything, it is an immersion in spirituality for men. Many men find this attractive, answering their deepest hungers and truly desirable. But many men have, for whatever (valid) reason, drifted so far for so long from spirituality and from organic religious experience, that they no longer have any idea how to catch up with the ideal that will fulfill them. Or they never had the opportunity to experience these realities at all. And they don’t even know how to phrase the question, to be able to ask for help. Or they feel they are alone in this predicament and don’t want to look foolish before other guys. Or they are just feeling guilty or ashamed. Or whatever. And so they remain silent and pull away from the very answer to their prayers and hungers.

We need each other. Each of us needs the community. And the community needs each of us. Whatever our shit, the beloved son of God underneath is our best gift to each other and to the future.

So is there a need for M.A.L.E.S. to offer some kind of group or one-on-one remedial catch-up service? If so, I have no idea how or when this need can be answered. But first we have to identify the possible need, before we are able to tailor a response. So, is this a need for you or someone(s) you know?

Lets put it in the form of a question:
What do I need, for me to be more free
to tie in to the community experience of M.A.L.E.S.?


Disclaimer: This question is mine and mine alone. I have not bounced this question off of Richard Rohr or any other of the mucky-mucks of the movement. So if I am out in left field, I’M the one who is out in left field.


John Parkos

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]]> http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/where_have_all_the_males_gone.html http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/where_have_all_the_males_gone.html Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:46:52 +0000 How do we encourage men to commit to a ROP? As we move forward trying to build a network of men who are commited to promoting ROPs, what are some strategies you believe would help get men to consider a ROP for themselves? http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/how_do_we_encourage_men_to_com.html http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/how_do_we_encourage_men_to_com.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:32:52 +0000 Reflecting on your ROP Since your ROP how has it impacted your life? http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/reflecting_on_your_rop.html http://mnmales.org/community/2007/12/reflecting_on_your_rop.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:29:55 +0000 Men keeping edges hot/// Gentlemen, Since your ROP what are you doing to keep 'the edges hot'? http://mnmales.org/community/2007/11/men_keeping_edges_hot.html http://mnmales.org/community/2007/11/men_keeping_edges_hot.html Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:18:01 +0000