This Father's Day, may you know that fathering does not require you to be perfect, nor does it even require you to have children. Fathering lives within the heart of every man, and has the power to transform the world, one hungry heart at a time.

My pen has hovered for moments. Hoping for words that honor, afraid of those that will hurt. I could easily assume and blunder my way into spaces only known by you. Or I could play it safe. Offer a sincere but meager thank you, and leave it at that. 

But in hopes of honor, I’ll risk this..

I’m guilty of asking it too. We can’t help it, we’re conditioned. I call it, “The Question”. You know the drill- you walk into a gathering of new people. The quiet hum of folksy bluegrass music plays in the background. Gap chinos and dresses mill about holding a glass of boxed wine, smoothing their demeanor and bolstering courage. You retrieve a beverage from the bar and turn to a small group of 40-somethings with excellent haircuts and smell like the pages of a late-90s JCPenny catalog. After the flimsy introduction and sharing your name (Ben) that no one will remember, it comes.

“So Dan, what do you do?”

I’ve wondered about the merit of trying new things. I’m tempted to dig through the smelly bin of recycled sayings and pull out the ‘adversity makes you stronger’ line. But you’ve heard that since you were little. Maybe that even dampened your spirit of experimenting. Instead, I’ll wonder about how you react to mistakes.

The melody felt natural and known, as if you heard your mother sing it for years. But beyond the sound, as wonderful as it was, I was drawn to the act of my friend offering his voice. Not just his physical voice, but the expression of what he worked hardest after and cared most about. Maybe that was my first realization of the courage required to offer one’s craft. In hearing the harmony of desire and risk in his voice, I was invited to listen to the same faint melody in my own soul. 

Cracking open that door led to me actually FEELING the pain. Grief hit me- both grief over what was, as well as what is and what will very likely always be. And what happens when we feel pain? Often we get protective- which can look like anger or isolation. Better to be alone and not get hurt again, than to be with others and get stabbed, right?

My favorite 4th of July was four years ago. Our century-old home, located across from the city park, was perfect for fireworks. We hosted 25 friends for a barbecue, and after a day of tending the grill, the pork shoulder turned out perfect. As kids played, we enjoyed food, laughter, and fireworks. The highlight was the lasting joy of friends gathered on our porch, celebrating not just independence, but the beauty of shared moments. Who are you grateful for today?

As we arrived at the beach, the flour-soft sand giving way under our steps, I felt the burdens of the past weeks begin to lift. The ocean, a toothpaste green expanse, welcomed us, its salty waves buoying our spirits and suspending my thoughts of heaviness. Floating in the vastness of the sea, I realized that my burdens didn't disappear but were instead rendered light, carried effortlessly by the immense and inviting waters.

As we awaken today, familiar with the rhythm of expectation, the age-old proclamation of resurrection echoes anew. Yet amidst the worn words and stale familiarity, may we embrace humility, finding surprise in the ongoing narrative of redemption. Let us not linger selectively at certain tombs, but instead, with renewed hope, seek the risen Christ in every corner of our lives, open to the unexpected revelations of grace.

Do you live as a son or an orphan in your story?

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to lose sight of our true identity and purpose as men. But what if I told you that there is a path to becoming the man that God designed you to be? A path that involves embracing sonship before attaining kingship. In this conversation between Chris and Morgan Snyder, the essence of becoming a son before becoming a king unfolds. Morgan's insights shed light on the journey of embracing sonship as a vital step towards fulfilling our true potential as men.