4 Points intro(5 sections)
vintage dashboard compass
for cars and boats
Just as a compass has four major points, North, South, East and West,
I propose that a complete man has four major points of strength
that he brings to his family and to society:
1) Relationships
2) Structure
3) Skillsets
4) Vision
A male needs to develop these assets
whether he had a father to teach them,
or if he needs to learn some other way.
Relationships
Successful men need to navigate many types of relationships,
with different levels of authority/responsibility .
(remember this phrase.)
Being a dad is part of the package of life for men who have conceived children.
If this concept is new to you, we will talk about it a lot here.
photo: river valley realty, nj
Structure
'Structure' can simply mean a house to live in.
Structure can also be a tool for maintaining healthy relationships.
Structure can mean regulated mealtimes and bedtimes for a child,
and speed limit expectations for a young driver.
And of course, expected behaviors from everyone in the household.
So, 'structure' implies...Responsibility.
God assigns responsibility, to provide structure.
Laws assign responsibility, to provide structure.
Legal contracts assign responsibility, to provide structure
Job descriptions assign responsibility, to provide structure.
Real love assigns responsibility, to provide structure.
And...there must be a proper response to structure from those who benefit from structure
This can be called 'compliance'.
'Structure' is a form of certainty...
such as a child knowing that he will have a bed for to sleep in food to eat.
But the child needs to go to bed when told and to eat what is put on the plate.
'Structure' is also a child knowing who they can turn to for relief from a problem,
be it math or schoolyard bullies.
These are all examples of structure.
If you grew up fatherless, you may have lacked some of these things.
Life Skills
Men are responsible for teaching life skills to specific people in their circle.
This includes their children.
To be a complete-man, one must accept this challenge.
(We can work toward being 'complete' without having to be 'perfect')
galileo was a man with great vision
Vision
Vision has several parts:
Practical Understanding: Knowing what you currently have
and what you will need in the future, and how each thing works.
Inventiveness: Seeking solutions or improvements that do not currently exist.
Concessions: Everyone has a free will, along with strengths and weaknesses.
and wise people allow the possibility of disappointments into their plans.
We concede that we don't know everything and we will all make mistakes along the way.
Consequences: Understanding the results of the choices made,
both for oneself and for other people in the group.
Good results are a consequence of diligence.