7 Great Men and Their Secrets There are questions that strike to the core of every man’s being. Beyond wondering “Why am I here?” these questions are a heavy burden on the shoulders. Answering them pierces the soul like a sword. 1. What is a man? 2. What makes him great? Pat answers and cliches are thrown around, but addressing these questions takes maturity and a willingness to be vulnerable. After all, these questions give birth to more questions. 1. What is a man? Biologically speaking this is a straight forward answer. A man stands to urinate, donates half the chromosomes to make a baby and is designed to be physically stronger than a woman (though not necessary with a higher pain tolerance). But a man is much more than that. A man is defined by his decisions, family background, occupation, relationship with God (or lack thereof), character, physical fitness, intelligence, etc. A million little pieces comprise our idea of a man. And yet a question that seems so simple on the surface conceals an enigma. Asking What is a man? reveals his potential and lead us to ask… 2. What makes him great? The pages of history are filled with great men. They come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life. While many good men walk the earth, greatness is a standard few reach for and attain. Greatness is found in the quality, consistency and honor of a man’s decisions, character and actions. In his book, 7 Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness, New York Times Best-Selling author Eric Metaxas shares the stories of some of the greatest men who ever lived. The introduction alone is worth the price of the book as Metaxas sets the stage for the state of masculinity in our culture. He challenges societies expectations of men, discusses chivalry and heroism, and asks another question, “So what is God’s idea for manhood?”. Two of my favorite quotes from the introduction are: “True strength is always strength given over to God’s purposes.” “God cares about the size of your heart, not how big your cojones are.” (paraphrased) These 7 Men are among the most significant characters in history. Their actions and decisions changed the world. Literally. A President, a member of Parliament, an Olympian missionary, an assassin theologian, a baseball player, a Pope and a White House special counsel. 1. George Washington 2. William Wilberforce 3. Eric Liddell 4. Dietrich Bonhoeffer 5. Jackie Robinson 6. Pope John Paul II 7. Chuck Colson As Metaxas briefly chronicles the lives and character of these great men I felt inspired and convicted. He reveals unknown layers to their stories that gave me a deeper sense of respect for them. As men and heroes. Were they perfect? No. They were men. And by God’s grace they left a legacy of greatness worth following.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 11:36:12 +0000
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