Men As Learners and Elders (M.A.L.Es)
a  program offered by the Center for Action and Contemplation

Why Men’s Work is Challenging by Richard Rohr, OFM

Working with men can be like herding cats! It actually helps us see why our men’s work is so urgently needed.

q       Men do not tend to sign up for things, surely not spiritual things, and surely not early.

q       Men affiliate quite differently than women, tending not to connect with one another unless there is a specific need, problem, or task.*

q       Men tend to naturally compete with one another, which leads to petty rivalries and hurts over issues of leadership, ego, and style.

q       Much of the first and early work with men is still rehabilitation (from unhealthy religion and loads of “bad news”) and personal healing (from addictions, childhood and family hurts, sexual wounds, father and authority wounds) — before we can get on to a positive and life giving spirituality.

q       Men overwhelmingly try to deal with life through their heads, with thoughts, theories, and theologies. The head is both their control tower and their spiritual down fall. Our approach and hope is to integrate body, mind, soul, and spirit.

*Our brothers in the Czech Republic continue to model effective methods of men staying connected for long-term support. Because of Communism they learned the “cell” concept, and have applied it to their follow-up and networking. American men tend to be task-oriented more than growth oriented. We hope to learn from them.

Last modified: April 13, 2008