This weekend is our First Annual Guy’s Camping Trip. Paul Foster and I (an maybe one other guy) are taking our boys camping. There is a specific purpose behind this annual trip though. The goal is to start the process of making men out of our boys…to begin the journey of manhood with them. I am a firm believer that this is our primary role as fathers for our sons–to guide and direct them into manhood, to teach them what it means to be a man and help them become a man.

This is no easy task, and we have done a lot of homework in preparing for this journey already. We have prayed. We have talked. We have studied. One of the best books on this subject is Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis. In the book Lewis talks about defining manhood and instilling this definition in your son(s). He also talks about using ceremonies in your son’s life to initiate him along the pathway to manhood (a rite of passage that is missing in our society). Lewis details four principles of manhood in his book (chapter 4):

1. A Real Man Rejects Passivity
2. A Real Man Accepts Responsibility
3. A Real Man Leads Courageously
4. A Real Man Expects the Greater Reward

I can’t argue with any of that (especially when you get into the details), but I think there is something missing. I sat down last night and prayed about this, asking God to help me define manhood for my sons. What is it I want my sons to know about manhood? How do I define manhood? What does it mean to be a man?

Here is my modified list (in its current form anyway, and yes some are from Lewis’ list):

1. A Real Man Knows and Walks with God
2. A Real Man Stands for Truth and Accepts Responsibility
3. A Real Man is a Servant Leader
4. A Real Man Lives for Something Bigger Than Himself
5. A Real Man Loves and Fights for the Woman in His Life

So here’s the question of the day…and I really to covet your thoughts, evaluations, and responses…are we missing anything? How do you answer this question: What Does it Mean to Be a Man? This is too important for me to think I have it all figured out (I’m working towards the goal…which is part of the lesson for the boys…this is a lifetime journey). Any thoughts, reactions, modifications, or additions are willingly accepted.

And please be praying for us this weekend as we start this journey. And if you know anyone who can loan us a sword for the weekend…do tell, we need on to initiate our boys as Pages!