Coaching Weekend is over. What now?

This weekend was beautiful. If you were in attendance, I have no doubt that you would agree.

There is something very special about hearing a man share his story, the most intimate parts of his experience, and being met by love. When we experience acceptance like this it becomes easier to understand the grace that Jesus has given us. 

This weekend one dozen men felt this. Maybe for some for the first time. But the question remains: what now?

The danger would be that we have an emotional experience or even a spiritual rejuvenation out at Tanglewood, but then make no room application once our lives resume. 

The reality is that it is not enough to begin understanding our story. Our goal is to play an active role in the co-authorship of our life with God. But if we take no time to continue in this deep work we will find ourselves in a similarly dry place in the very near future. 

Derek Sivers said it this way in his book “Hell Yeah or No”: 

“Personal change needs some space to happen. To bring something new into your life, you need somewhere to put it. If your current habits are filling your day, where are these new habits supposed to go?”

Paul seems to agree with this line of thinking given what he wrote to the church at Colossae: 

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:8-10(NIV)

If we want to be new men, we must be willing to make room for the things that promote that spiritual growth. As we often say in the circle “if nothing changes, then nothing changes.”

So what do you need to make room for in your life to be the man God has intended you to be? And which men are going to hold you accountable when you try to revert to your old self?

Take some time for solitude. Journal and pray with these things in mind. Discuss it with a trusted confidant you spent time with this weekend. 

 These are questions we can’t afford to leave unanswered.