“Now, a recent change has been added. If you do not meet either the height and weight standards OR the body fat standards (charts below), you’re still alright if you can crush the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and Combat Fitness Test (CFT). The service is focused on its Marines’ performance, not aesthetics.” ~ military.com explaining Marine Corps Standards.
My body fat percentage… I weigh that against the visual lines of my abs.
Measuring my manliness…
There is a danger here.
Recently my youngest son and I have been having some good life discussions.
During the course of the discussions he will say, “Why does the world look so messed up?”
He has grown as a man, he has good questions, and most importantly has opened his mind to at least… hear new information that may help his understanding of the world at large.
My input recently has been, “Do you remember using tracing paper as a kid in elementary school?”
You might have just asked yourself, “What is he talking about?”
Maybe you have opened your mind to hearing a new view point.
Here it is.
After I ask about the tracing paper, I ask him to envision this… “Picture the Bible; the life of Jesus Christ; all the Bible stories; all of the Psalms and Proverbs… as if they were written on that piece of tracing paper. And now, like when you were little… gently lay that piece of tracing paper, with the Word of God on it, OVER your current perception of how the world is messed up… and you will see how everything actually lines up with Gods Word.”
He had to stop and think about that one.
I believe now, most of my struggles as a man have come about because I was using the wrong measurement.
At first my measure was The Lone Ranger; John Wayne; and Bruce Lee.
Then my measure was “how good do you look in a suit?”
After that my measure was “healthy”, a man takes care of himself first, in order to be able to take care of others.
Then a measure of “ready for violence” emerged, a man needs to stand up to the evils of the world.
I have come to learn that those are all external images that are, in most cases, unattainable, unrealistic, measures of a man.
So I looked inward and found this measurement/quote… “You can’t out perform your inner self-image.”
When I try to BE something other than what I am… I struggle.
When I am just me, just Dave, willing, available, doing a good deed a day Dave… I am full, bubbling over; peaceful; ready; strong; confident; prepared and placed rightly. And whatever it is I’m doing… is a joy.
So try this tracing paper technique, with this written on it… when rummaging around for your own manliness.
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” ~ Proverbs 27:2
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.” ~ 2 Corinthians 10:12
Try to sit still, an let that sink in for a minute… even if you are an atheist. Just try it.
I would like to ENCOURAGE, EQUIP, & ENGAGE you today… to take a quiet moment to determine by what measure do you stand yourself up against concerning your manliness.
Does the measure… measure up, if measured against an unbiased measurement?
theemergingman.com 