The Pretender
Excerpt from Men-The Gods of Love, Chapter 18: Purpose
Man proposes, God disposes, Purpose aligns the two.
Most men spend their days struggling to create something different and/or better, something of their own. Often it is just to provide for their families’ survival, just like their Neanderthal ancestors (cavemen). It is a way of behaving that gives men a feeling of purpose, fulfillment, and freedom. But the reason for their actions and struggles has long since been forgotten. These Neanderthal hunter-gatherers, who had always provided out of loving duty, have been rejected as irrelevant and, even worse, considered to be repulsive. Sometimes men are even referred to derogatorily as “Neanderthals.” However, these ancient hunters knew why they did what they did.
Modern man has unfortunately lost this knowing, and subsequently he has lost sight of his PURPOSE in life. A man’s actions are no longer clear. Simply put, most men haven’t a clue what fulfillment is, nor are they aware it is directly related to a purpose. It has become something nebulous, cloud-like. One knows it’s there, but it seems to be just beyond reach. Of course, this makes its attainment elusive at best. And since purpose is what gives one a sense of value, this, too, remains out of reach.
Most men in their forties can relate to feeling exhausted. There is a never-ending stream of daily battles to vanquish, orders to follow, and work that all too often looks like drudgery. Even the greatest of heroes get tired, worn-out, wanting to find peace. For too many men there is no end in sight given the nature of the world as they perceive it. This is the period where the fuel gauge reads empty; vitality seems to have run out: distractions have lost their magic; and relationships feel draining.
In this stage of life, it is not uncommon to feel like we are operating on automatic. When asking a man in this state why he is doing what he does, he may tell you it is for his family or his business, but deep down he really has no idea. He is just keeping busy. That’s a man’s job - to do, even if it’s only taking out the garbage or mowing the lawn. “Ours is not to wonder why, ours is just to do or die.“
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