Consider starting a Men In Balance group: It's a lot of fun!
It’s now some time since my legendary heart issues started and I now have a stent to keep an artery open and a pacemaker to keep my heart regulated. During my recuperation I thought a lot about how much men gain from getting together to talk about substantive issues.
I would like you to consider starting a small group for this purpose. I will provide you the materials for discussions or you can choose your own. The important thing is that men getting together and talking openly with each other is healthy and productive. If you don’t think this is for you, perhaps you could forward this message to someone who might be interested. You can choose the members of your small group from men who live close by, men at work, men from your church, etc. You can meet at your home, a bar, a restaurant or wherever makes sense.
While you’re at it, start thinking about taking better care of yourself so that you can be present for your family and for the service of others. Here’s a small list of simple things you can do:
Lose some weight if you need to. Even dropping a couple of calories each day can help.
Exercise regularly. This doesn’t have to be a marathon, but at least 20 minutes of walking each day.
Get a physical check up regularly. At least once a year go in and get the works. This includes a EKG and a treadmill test.
Change your diet to more healthy choices. This alone will probably help you lose weight but most of us (certainly including me) eat far more than our body needs. That adds to the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Finally, think of how you can serve others in your daily life. Join a church group, a nonprofit organization, or just decide on your own little ministry. A friend of mine who is homebound, follows up on each sick person in our church with a phone call. This is just a ministry taken on in love and it is powerful. Another friend makes visits to a local prison.
I hope you have a good week and you will put some of these ideas into practice, or at least think more deeply about them. I am convinced that giving to others is the only real purpose in life, and everything else follows from that.
