I had some shame stirring as I woke up: rude to my wife, messy with my stuff, snoring, gingivitis, etc. God knows I can digress if I sit in my junk for long.

When I do, I felt like a wreck. I know some of you have felt the same way:

I’m not even strong enough for myself
I’m falling to pieces
Honestly don’t care about anything anymore
Can’t go on living like this
I need someone to listen. No one can help me.

Fortunately, God is listening.

On the way to work in the back of my mind was playing:

Amy, Jill, Eric and I were driving back toward San Jose when Eric pulled the car into a parking lot facing the ocean.

Eric knew that we would love to watch the sun set over the ocean.

While we we admiring the setting, Eric got up without a word and walked over to a pile of sticks. At least that’s what I saw. Jill saw a wood pile that had been gathered and positioned for the evening fire. Eric saw something else.

As I was approaching fifty years old I sought the wisdom of my elders. I sought out men and women older than I was to learn lessons on life that they had been learning.

Last Monday I began a series entitled A Treasure Chest Of Wisdom, including:

1. Don’t Hold Grudges
2. Take Care Of Your Health.
3. Compassion Makes Sense and Giving Is Better Than Taking
4. Greed Gains Momentum
5. Gratitude Leads To Contentment
6. Contentment Leads To Generosity

Everyone Splashes.  Splash Blessings.

In 1990 Jungian psychologist Robert Moore and co-author Douglas Gillette wrote King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine.

Moore and Gillette referred to four blueprints, in Stu Weber’s Tender Warrior: Every Man’s Purpose, Every Woman’s Dream, Every Child’s Hope he calls them fingerprints.

All the authors argue that in order to become a complete man, a man must be intentional in his efforts to develop in all four areas of his life.

Weber’s blueprints are:

- King
- Warrior
- Mentor
- Friend

Today’s my son Josh’s 19th birthday.  If you want you can bless him with your happy birthday wishes here on his Facebook.

While I was writing this post I smirked to myself.

My mind filled with witty comments, hilarious stories and silly nicknames that Josh has had over the years.  Since I want him to have a birthday in which he gets attention he wants I’ll save most of them for another day.

I’ll just say, that when I wrote that “Hugs and all genuinely welcoming embraces like handshakes, high-fives and fist bumps,  connect people through meaningful touch” describes what I think of when I think of Josh.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.

I am timid and I am oversensitive

I am a lioness

I am tired and defensive

You take me in your arms

And I fall into you

I have insecurities

You show me I am beautiful

While she was embarrassed to stumble through the National Anthem on Super Bowl Sunday Christina Aguilera is an amazing vocalist. In her song “I Am” she explains her vulnerable weaknesses. Continuing:

Love me or leave me

Have you ever been handcuffed? Even for fun? It’s limiting, restrictive and a bit intimidating.

That’s how I feel about fear. Fear limits, restricts and intimidates me. And it limits, restricts and intimidates you. Doesn’t it?

What causes your fears may be different than what causes mine, but we feel the same way. God wants to free us from the handcuffs that bind us. God wants to free us to be who we were created to be:

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” [Isaiah 41:10]