Last November, my son--then a fourteen year old--learned about No-Shave-November. It was toward the end of the month and we said then we would do it this year. We'd go a month without shaving. So, I'm now sporting a beard for the first time in probably 15 years. No Shave November is trying to be for men what wearing pink on October is for women--an encouragement for men to visit their doctors. Men have unique health needs but often resist going to their physician unless they have a broken bone or can't stop the bleeding with duct tape. So we've all decided to grow our beards to encourage one another to visit our doctors. Did you make your appointment?
In Catholic tradition, the function of the parish priest has been called the Cure of Souls for centuries. It's a beautiful image of one called by the Great Physician to administer the teaching, ordinances, and pastoral care that enable others to pursue spiritual health. As a local church pastor, I can tell you that pastoral care for men is quite different than pastoral care for women. Men often take circuitous routes getting to the point where they will allow a pastor to be their pastor. They resist going to their medical physicians until something is undeniably wrong and the resist going to their pastors with an even greater determination. So, your pastor is fuzzy today because his son asked him to be. But, I'd ask all sons, regardless of their age, to attend to their spiritual health. Make an appointment to visit with your pastor. There doesn't have to be anything wrong--we can pray together, speak of God's glory and God's grace, ponder the big questions, and grow in our faith. Did you make your appointment?
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