November 1, 2010
Greetings Sacred Path Community,
I have frequently heard the words, “this retreat was the best,” following each retreat that we’ve held for the past 23 years. Somehow these words felt different this time, maybe because I witnessed just how extraordinarily profound this event was for so many in attendance. I had remarked during one of my talks that we are not a big operation, but rather we seem to be a “boutique” retreat. We have not endeavored to duplicate our retreat or to take it all over the world. Yet we have something that has endured for over twenty years and holds enough power that it has drawn men back to it again and again, with many men claiming to have attended more than 20 retreats.
The word that resonated for me was “community.” We indeed have become a community of people that have connected in a good way. In fact, the men and the women that support them have found friendship and kinship on a Sacred Path. You can view the pictures and read what many men have said about this retreat. I wish to convey here that the camaraderie and fellowship exuded over the 4 days that we were together on the mountain was rich and overflowing with true support and love.
There were highlights: some of them for me included a heartfelt communication between a father and son; watching one of our disabled men accomplish, with the assistance of his brothers, every task put before him; the candor and depth of the sharing in the community times; how all of the men went full out to stretch beyond their limiting beliefs to create significant breakthroughs; the warmth and sincerity of Grandfather Soldier Bear’s communications in the large group and individually; that which brought the laughter as well as the tears; and, simply, the friendship and brotherhood that was so present.
Comprising the 55 men in attendance, we had those that came from various parts of the country including the east coast. The team of 3 men that facilitated the board-breaking, glass and fire walks came in from Texas. Charles Horton, a fire-walk facilitator, commented that of all of the events that he has led all over the world, “this one was his favorite.” He was blown away by the intensity of the drumming and how all of the men went full out. Another young man offered his services by providing healing bodywork for many of us. The Inipi ceremonies conducted by Andrew and Thomas, including the fire keepers, Vince and Tom, provided a great gift. Scott and the men that assembled and took down the container were selfless in their offering and the container itself continues to develop and go up smoothly under Scott’s creative guidance.
I feel such gratitude to all of the men on the Wisdom Council that held space, and a special thanks to Tom Couper for taking the point on bringing his vision for this retreat to fruition, and to Steve Branker for pulling all of the disparate elements together into a greater sum than its parts. It’s times like this that reinvigorate and lend credence to the overall vision that so many have held for our community. I personally feel that we are called to carry this vision forward as new men find their way onto the Sacred Path. As the dust settles on this retreat and as we turn our attention to the Spring Call to Adventure retreat, it is with a sense of accomplishment that we acknowledge what we have created together. It’s with a sense of awe and wonder that we focus on what will be born out of the ashes of the Phoenix’s descent into the fire and the transformation into what comes next.
There will be a one-day event on February 5, 2011, followed by our Call to Adventure Retreat on April 7-10 (early this year due to Easter and Passover), and then an event with Leonard Orr, the father of Rebirthing, on Friday night, June 3 and Saturday, June 4. Please mark your calendars now; further details will follow.
Charlie Atkinson, Walter’s son, has offered up to $10,000 in matching funds for all donations offered to support the CTA retreat this April. So, please consider making a donation to the Walter Atkinson Scholarship Fund. With $20,000 in our scholarship account we can bring a lot of kids from the inner city to the retreat. Your donation is tax deductible. Checks can be made payable to: Millennium Oaks Institute (our 501c3 not-for-profit corporation) and mailed c/o: MCLA, 21243 Ventura Blvd., Suite 214, Woodland Hills, CA, 91364.
Namaste,
Stephen
Monday, November 1, 2010
PHOENIX RISING IMAGES
To view the entire photo gallery and upload your own pictures, click HERE
Firewalk, Moonrise, and Spirits Rising
Grant, Matthew and John
Phoenix Rising (Wings Spread)
Tony and Grandfather Soldier Bear
Phoenix Rising (Human Form)
Firewalk, Moonrise, and Spirits Rising
Grant, Matthew and John
Phoenix Rising (Wings Spread)
Tony and Grandfather Soldier Bear
Phoenix Rising (Human Form)PARTICIPANTS' IMPRESSIONS OF THE RETREAT
My Dear Fellow Firewalkers,
I'm writing this to pass on a message to you from my 87-year-old mother.
What you should know about my Mom is that over her lifetime she has created her own set of spiritual practices that help her and the people around her. One of these practices I call "Holding Vigil" and it goes like this: whenever she thinks of a person, be it family or friend or some person or group of people that she knows is suffering, she pauses in the middle of what she is doing, focuses her attention on them, feels respect and love and appreciation for them, wishes them the very best, and then goes on about her day. So my mother holds vigil for people many times throughout the day.
When I told my mother we were going to do a firewalk during this retreat she wasn't too uncomfortable with it because she knows some people in her community who have done it. However she said, "While I know I don't have to do something like that and I'm glad I don't, I hope you learn what you want to and I'm going to hold many vigils for you and the other men."
I just got off the phone with Mom. She said she just needed to call to make sure I was okay. I could tell she was relieved that we were all safe. She said that she held many vigils for us and awoke a few extra times at night. She asked how it went. I told her we had a great time, that we were well prepared and, even more importantly, that we all helped each other. She said, "Well please tell those good men, 'Thank you,' for helping my son and making sure he got home safe."
Thank you for helping me.
I love you with all of my heart, brothers,
Tom Couper
Stephen-
Words won't express the gratitude I have for you especially and for all the staff who shape the experience you have created up on the mountain. I think Tom said it best on Sunday when he acknowledged you as "the father of our retreat". As all of us have fathers or are fathers and stepfathers, you mindfully, compassionately and lovingly touched so many men's lives and the lives of those around them by association while building a lasting men's community and legacy for generations to come.
Please accept these photos and others that will be sent shortly to Grant for the website in time for the November newsletter. If some photos are blurry it's because I prefer to capture the spirit of the moment in natural light rather than disrupt the vibe with distracting flashes, especially during more private intimate, breakthrough moments. On firewalk night, when other flashes started firing, I decided to take a few when the guys started requesting individual souvenirs.
This retreat was yet another "full emotional discharge / full emotional recharge" for me and so many others. As many men stated, it really was "the best retreat yet" on so many levels. I agree.
Tommy quipped that it was a real "barn-burner" and I believe he was right, literally and figuratively, now wasn't he?
Thank you so much Stephen,
Love,
Rob Bruce
I’ve just come down the mountain from probably the most profoundly transformative three-day experience I have ever had.
This was my fourth retreat in a row, and although each and every prior one has been a deeply moving and mind- and heart-expanding experience, this weekend's retreat just hit the mark on so many levels for me. The theme, "Phoenix Rising," and the opportunity to firewalk as a demonstration of how one's mind can be trained to accomplish the extraordinary really resonated with me. I have wished to release beliefs and behaviors that have limited me in achieving my purpose and true contentment for so long.
The sweat lodge ceremony has been an event that I've looked forward to at each retreat since my first time, and I always love how Andrew incorporates the ancient traditions into an examination of the confusing world we live in today. The temporary discomfort of "suffering while we can," while praying for that which blocks us and holds us back from obtaining what we really desire to be left behind, is a small price to pay. I truly love the beauty and mysticism of this ceremony. And I was so honored to be included among men who others have said are needed to steer us into and through the tremendous changes that are on our not too distant horizon. The experience left me humbled and grateful beyond words.
The series of events on Saturday that precipitated that evening's firewalk unfolded in a manner that could only have been led by a divine hand, from Christo's energizing movement session to Dr. Johnson's morning message on faith, to community time that included the most powerful exchange between a son and his father I have ever witnessed. The firewalk preparation we received, orchestrated with perfection and executed with unbelievable love and compassion, energized us so that we could all be 100% conscious, committed and ready to take that first step onto the hot coals. I watched each man cross that bed of fire, cheering him on as he went, and celebrating with him in the joy of accomplishment - just as my brothers had done for me.
I truly feel blessed to have been a participant in this retreat. I now feel that I really am a member of this community of fine men. I thank all the men who work tirelessly to organize, staff and lead this remarkable event. Your love and welcoming acceptance is appreciated more than mere words could ever express.
In brotherhood,
Sterling Meredith
Overall the 2010 Fall Sacred Path Retreat was really the “Best Ever” in the eighteen years that I have been attending the retreats. I have come out of this retreat with a feeling of accomplishment and restored energy like no other. I can't say enough on how well this retreat went. Great work...
Have a wonderful day.
Namaste,
Your Brother Dan Stanton
I have been on two retreats. During the first retreat I experienced fear about every challenge, and occasionally that fear was paralyzing. Even though I knew there was going to be a firewalk challenge this retreat, I did not feel fear. I did the firewalk, and looking back I can honestly say that for the first time in my life I had faith that I would be safe, and I was.
Gary Kress
Brother Tom:
I want to take a moment to again thank you for being the driving force behind the firewalk. As I look back on it now, though the walk itself was anticlimactic, what the men achieved as a whole was beyond measure. Jose sweated, broke wood, walked on glass and 1000-degree ash, and the love and support that surrounded these moments was off the scale. I witnessed emotional releases on a scale I have not seen in the previous retreats, and was humbled by them. The sharing of Aubry and Scott and the bonding I witnessed fills my eyes with tears even now in the memory of it. My walks and discussions with Soldier Bear are smooth whispers of the gentleness of that soul, and the moments shared are diamonds in my heart's treasure chest. My talks with other men there gave me support in my own task of looking deep...deeper. My experiences during the Retreat are still under review and assimilation. But I needed to share this with you after I read your last email.
Were it not for your drive, this Retreat would not have been what it became. I started out to the Retreat with fear in my heart and my spirit unsure of what the next step was, or if it should ever be taken. The sky was overcast and rain was in the wind. Sunday morning as I walked about the Retreat area, I was overwhelmed with a profound sadness I have not previously experienced. Tears leaped to my eyes as I walked and realized it was over. I had to leave. I had to go back down. I had thought that I had packed it away until Tommy started singing in the Container, and being me, I allowed it to stand forth. When I backed out of the Container, it was one of the hardest departures I have ever experienced in my life. When I left, the sky was clear and sunny, my spirit rode a winged horse, and the fear was gone.
When I came home and was able to adjust again to this zone of time, I looked in my journal and found the following poem. I thought it summarized the Retreat for me very well:
Hollow is the call to the soul
Wreakless the need to pursue;
Unknown the merit of its mere
Quietly heart – step soft the halls
Let no echo of thy want come forth
No hint of what the soul recalls
Raise ocean of thought, wave of feeling
Allow once more your full being
To flow to Spirit’s wholeness
Thanks again. Because of your drive, this Retreat for me was the best. You have my love and blessing, brother, this you know. The gift I gave you in the Container was partial payment for the Retreat you gave me.
Love,
Phillip Jennings
Hello Brothers,
Where should I start? I would like to point out that this was the most moving experience of my life, both in terms of not being afraid to do anything that’s presented to me or put in front of me on my path in becoming the best I can be in life. The things in which we all took part reflect my whole past/history and help me deal with the future. Not only have I realized that my life is more and more important as each day passes, but that my life means a lot to others. In addition, there are a lot of people like all of my brothers from the retreat who have genuine hearts and that will listen, show their emotions, and not judge me or their brothers. I must admit I feel that I am not just part of a team, but part of a group of men that I feel will be with me for the rest of my life. It’s something no one can ever take away from me. I will have you all in my heart from now forward, whether we see each other at the retreats every 6 months or not (God forbid). The memories will always be with me, and nothing can ever take them away. Thank you for being so kind, and most of all, SO REAL and not fake like so many people are in this world. The stories everyone shared were so moving that many times I couldn’t hold back my emotions as they spoke to my heart and I cried like a kid. I learn from all of your stories, and they help me in my life. I respect all of you for being as strong as you are to get up and be open to the deepest, most personal things in your lives. That means so much to me, and I think, to everyone else at the retreat. Dr. Johnson and your entire staff, you are so amazing! You are special human beings of whom I consider a few souls in a million can be. I see that what you do is strictly from your heart, and that’s what makes these retreats and all of you so special to me in my life and my spiritual journey. I Love You ALL and I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be part of something so special!
Manny Valencia
I have just returned from the Fall 2010 Sacred Path Men's Retreat. I am rejuvenated and inspired. Our weekend of activities included a "sweat lodge," "walking on fire" (not as scary as it sounds) and communal meetings where we "take the talking stick" and "speak from the heart" about our experiences as men. It is there in this magnificent array that we can open up and share our deepest concerns, our failed dreams, and our hopes for the future. We find that we are not alone in our fears and that our childhood wounds that often involve our fathers (and sometime mothers) are not unique to us. We learn about ourselves and we heal in the company of good men.
There's plenty of fun as well, with glorious trails for vigorous hikes up the mountain, Sunday morning meditation on the point overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean and even a ropes course for the man who craves that "thrill." We are also treated to amazing meals that provide another wonderful opportunity to gather and get to know each other better. This was my 6th retreat and once again, I met some terrific men whom I know will become lifelong friends.
At the Sacred Path Retreat, I am finally among a community of men where I feel that I belong, where I can open up and be myself. I have truly found the feeling of acceptance and brotherhood that I did not have as a young boy. I was not close to my Dad and, as a result I could not find myself or my place in this world as a man. It affected my relationships with both men and women. I am slowly healing myself in this unique world of "a community of good men" that Dr. Stephen Johnson has created with the Men's Center of Los Angeles and the Sacred Path Retreats. It is not a "cure-all" and there is much I need to do individually, but it is a place to go to... to reflect, to listen, to give myself permission to be who I am. It is the home I did not have.
Jeffery Passero
I'm writing this to pass on a message to you from my 87-year-old mother.
What you should know about my Mom is that over her lifetime she has created her own set of spiritual practices that help her and the people around her. One of these practices I call "Holding Vigil" and it goes like this: whenever she thinks of a person, be it family or friend or some person or group of people that she knows is suffering, she pauses in the middle of what she is doing, focuses her attention on them, feels respect and love and appreciation for them, wishes them the very best, and then goes on about her day. So my mother holds vigil for people many times throughout the day.
When I told my mother we were going to do a firewalk during this retreat she wasn't too uncomfortable with it because she knows some people in her community who have done it. However she said, "While I know I don't have to do something like that and I'm glad I don't, I hope you learn what you want to and I'm going to hold many vigils for you and the other men."
I just got off the phone with Mom. She said she just needed to call to make sure I was okay. I could tell she was relieved that we were all safe. She said that she held many vigils for us and awoke a few extra times at night. She asked how it went. I told her we had a great time, that we were well prepared and, even more importantly, that we all helped each other. She said, "Well please tell those good men, 'Thank you,' for helping my son and making sure he got home safe."
Thank you for helping me.
I love you with all of my heart, brothers,
Tom Couper
~~~~~~~~~~
Stephen-
Words won't express the gratitude I have for you especially and for all the staff who shape the experience you have created up on the mountain. I think Tom said it best on Sunday when he acknowledged you as "the father of our retreat". As all of us have fathers or are fathers and stepfathers, you mindfully, compassionately and lovingly touched so many men's lives and the lives of those around them by association while building a lasting men's community and legacy for generations to come.
Please accept these photos and others that will be sent shortly to Grant for the website in time for the November newsletter. If some photos are blurry it's because I prefer to capture the spirit of the moment in natural light rather than disrupt the vibe with distracting flashes, especially during more private intimate, breakthrough moments. On firewalk night, when other flashes started firing, I decided to take a few when the guys started requesting individual souvenirs.
This retreat was yet another "full emotional discharge / full emotional recharge" for me and so many others. As many men stated, it really was "the best retreat yet" on so many levels. I agree.
Tommy quipped that it was a real "barn-burner" and I believe he was right, literally and figuratively, now wasn't he?
Thank you so much Stephen,
Love,
Rob Bruce
~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve just come down the mountain from probably the most profoundly transformative three-day experience I have ever had.
This was my fourth retreat in a row, and although each and every prior one has been a deeply moving and mind- and heart-expanding experience, this weekend's retreat just hit the mark on so many levels for me. The theme, "Phoenix Rising," and the opportunity to firewalk as a demonstration of how one's mind can be trained to accomplish the extraordinary really resonated with me. I have wished to release beliefs and behaviors that have limited me in achieving my purpose and true contentment for so long.
The sweat lodge ceremony has been an event that I've looked forward to at each retreat since my first time, and I always love how Andrew incorporates the ancient traditions into an examination of the confusing world we live in today. The temporary discomfort of "suffering while we can," while praying for that which blocks us and holds us back from obtaining what we really desire to be left behind, is a small price to pay. I truly love the beauty and mysticism of this ceremony. And I was so honored to be included among men who others have said are needed to steer us into and through the tremendous changes that are on our not too distant horizon. The experience left me humbled and grateful beyond words.
The series of events on Saturday that precipitated that evening's firewalk unfolded in a manner that could only have been led by a divine hand, from Christo's energizing movement session to Dr. Johnson's morning message on faith, to community time that included the most powerful exchange between a son and his father I have ever witnessed. The firewalk preparation we received, orchestrated with perfection and executed with unbelievable love and compassion, energized us so that we could all be 100% conscious, committed and ready to take that first step onto the hot coals. I watched each man cross that bed of fire, cheering him on as he went, and celebrating with him in the joy of accomplishment - just as my brothers had done for me.
I truly feel blessed to have been a participant in this retreat. I now feel that I really am a member of this community of fine men. I thank all the men who work tirelessly to organize, staff and lead this remarkable event. Your love and welcoming acceptance is appreciated more than mere words could ever express.
In brotherhood,
Sterling Meredith
~~~~~~~~~~
Overall the 2010 Fall Sacred Path Retreat was really the “Best Ever” in the eighteen years that I have been attending the retreats. I have come out of this retreat with a feeling of accomplishment and restored energy like no other. I can't say enough on how well this retreat went. Great work...
Have a wonderful day.
Namaste,
Your Brother Dan Stanton
~~~~~~~~~~
I have been on two retreats. During the first retreat I experienced fear about every challenge, and occasionally that fear was paralyzing. Even though I knew there was going to be a firewalk challenge this retreat, I did not feel fear. I did the firewalk, and looking back I can honestly say that for the first time in my life I had faith that I would be safe, and I was.
Gary Kress
~~~~~~~~~~
Brother Tom:
I want to take a moment to again thank you for being the driving force behind the firewalk. As I look back on it now, though the walk itself was anticlimactic, what the men achieved as a whole was beyond measure. Jose sweated, broke wood, walked on glass and 1000-degree ash, and the love and support that surrounded these moments was off the scale. I witnessed emotional releases on a scale I have not seen in the previous retreats, and was humbled by them. The sharing of Aubry and Scott and the bonding I witnessed fills my eyes with tears even now in the memory of it. My walks and discussions with Soldier Bear are smooth whispers of the gentleness of that soul, and the moments shared are diamonds in my heart's treasure chest. My talks with other men there gave me support in my own task of looking deep...deeper. My experiences during the Retreat are still under review and assimilation. But I needed to share this with you after I read your last email.
Were it not for your drive, this Retreat would not have been what it became. I started out to the Retreat with fear in my heart and my spirit unsure of what the next step was, or if it should ever be taken. The sky was overcast and rain was in the wind. Sunday morning as I walked about the Retreat area, I was overwhelmed with a profound sadness I have not previously experienced. Tears leaped to my eyes as I walked and realized it was over. I had to leave. I had to go back down. I had thought that I had packed it away until Tommy started singing in the Container, and being me, I allowed it to stand forth. When I backed out of the Container, it was one of the hardest departures I have ever experienced in my life. When I left, the sky was clear and sunny, my spirit rode a winged horse, and the fear was gone.
When I came home and was able to adjust again to this zone of time, I looked in my journal and found the following poem. I thought it summarized the Retreat for me very well:
Hollow is the call to the soul
Wreakless the need to pursue;
Unknown the merit of its mere
Quietly heart – step soft the halls
Let no echo of thy want come forth
No hint of what the soul recalls
Raise ocean of thought, wave of feeling
Allow once more your full being
To flow to Spirit’s wholeness
Thanks again. Because of your drive, this Retreat for me was the best. You have my love and blessing, brother, this you know. The gift I gave you in the Container was partial payment for the Retreat you gave me.
Love,
Phillip Jennings
~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Brothers,
Where should I start? I would like to point out that this was the most moving experience of my life, both in terms of not being afraid to do anything that’s presented to me or put in front of me on my path in becoming the best I can be in life. The things in which we all took part reflect my whole past/history and help me deal with the future. Not only have I realized that my life is more and more important as each day passes, but that my life means a lot to others. In addition, there are a lot of people like all of my brothers from the retreat who have genuine hearts and that will listen, show their emotions, and not judge me or their brothers. I must admit I feel that I am not just part of a team, but part of a group of men that I feel will be with me for the rest of my life. It’s something no one can ever take away from me. I will have you all in my heart from now forward, whether we see each other at the retreats every 6 months or not (God forbid). The memories will always be with me, and nothing can ever take them away. Thank you for being so kind, and most of all, SO REAL and not fake like so many people are in this world. The stories everyone shared were so moving that many times I couldn’t hold back my emotions as they spoke to my heart and I cried like a kid. I learn from all of your stories, and they help me in my life. I respect all of you for being as strong as you are to get up and be open to the deepest, most personal things in your lives. That means so much to me, and I think, to everyone else at the retreat. Dr. Johnson and your entire staff, you are so amazing! You are special human beings of whom I consider a few souls in a million can be. I see that what you do is strictly from your heart, and that’s what makes these retreats and all of you so special to me in my life and my spiritual journey. I Love You ALL and I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be part of something so special!
Manny Valencia
~~~~~~~~~~
I have just returned from the Fall 2010 Sacred Path Men's Retreat. I am rejuvenated and inspired. Our weekend of activities included a "sweat lodge," "walking on fire" (not as scary as it sounds) and communal meetings where we "take the talking stick" and "speak from the heart" about our experiences as men. It is there in this magnificent array that we can open up and share our deepest concerns, our failed dreams, and our hopes for the future. We find that we are not alone in our fears and that our childhood wounds that often involve our fathers (and sometime mothers) are not unique to us. We learn about ourselves and we heal in the company of good men.
There's plenty of fun as well, with glorious trails for vigorous hikes up the mountain, Sunday morning meditation on the point overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean and even a ropes course for the man who craves that "thrill." We are also treated to amazing meals that provide another wonderful opportunity to gather and get to know each other better. This was my 6th retreat and once again, I met some terrific men whom I know will become lifelong friends.
At the Sacred Path Retreat, I am finally among a community of men where I feel that I belong, where I can open up and be myself. I have truly found the feeling of acceptance and brotherhood that I did not have as a young boy. I was not close to my Dad and, as a result I could not find myself or my place in this world as a man. It affected my relationships with both men and women. I am slowly healing myself in this unique world of "a community of good men" that Dr. Stephen Johnson has created with the Men's Center of Los Angeles and the Sacred Path Retreats. It is not a "cure-all" and there is much I need to do individually, but it is a place to go to... to reflect, to listen, to give myself permission to be who I am. It is the home I did not have.
Jeffery Passero
THE SEVEN WAYS OF LIFE
By Grandfather Soldier Bear
1. WACEKIYE - Prayer to and for all of creation. Pray every morning and thank Creator for giving us another day. Before sleep time, thank Creator for giving us a good day. "Anpetu wasteh” means “good morning” in Lakota. Always remember and pray before meals. Pray that people will have open minds before meetings – we call meetings “omniciye”.
2. WAOKIYE – Be helpful to children and elders, and help every person in whatever way you can. We call children “wakaneza”. “Wakan” means sacred as well as meaning The Creator. As Lakotas, we chastise anyone who harms a child.
3. WAUNSILA – literal translation is to have pity for, to have empathy or compassion for someone. The compassion for a fellow human goes further and includes all of the living creatures in our universe.
4. WOWICAKE – Honesty in all that you do and say. Be true to yourself and speak of things you know to be true. Not being honest with oneself is self-deception. Many things are the same - light and dark, heat and cold – these are the same thing and are different in degree only. Honesty and dishonesty are not the same – a lie is a lie and the truth is the truth.
5. WAOHOLA – Respect for all of the Creator’s children, i.e. mankind and all of the things in nature. Have and show respect for your elders. Especially have respect for the women, for they are your grandmothers, mothers, sisters and wives. Be like a man and protect women; never abuse them mentally, physically or spiritually. If you do, you will no longer be a man. That is our belief as Lakotas. I hope that every man could witness what happens when danger threatens a herd of elk or buffalo. [ed. - The males encircle the females and calves, horns facing outward, protecting them with their lives.]
6. WOKSAPA – Wisdom, knowledge that can help mankind. Wisdom does not come with age or with the accumulation of knowledge. Wisdom is the process of applying what knowledge you have in a good way for the benefit of your fellow man.
7. WAHWALA – Humility is recognizing that in comparison to the Creator we know very little and understand even less. When we practice the first five ways and understand the significance of them in a spiritual manner, we may gain a little wisdom. When we actually use our wisdom to help someone and we do it without expecting any acknowledgment from anyone, and we do it with heart, then and only then will they say, “He is a humble person.” I have never heard a truly humble man say that he was humble.
CONNECTION COUNTS: Firewalks, Championships and Brotherhood
By Dan Franklin, MFT, Director of Counseling Services
As an unabashed Los Angeles Laker fan for the last thirty years, I was unapologetically, emotionally moved by the ring ceremony before their first game this season. I trust and hope many of you saw it. Perhaps some of you were moved by it as I was. It actually brought tears to my eyes. In an unusual departure from typical ceremonies of this sort, each player introduced and praised another of his teammates. The resulting embraces and display of respect, love and affection they have for one another was clearly evident and undoubtedly one of the reasons why this team or any team, be it in sports or in life, succeeds to the degree that this team has succeeded. Talent and ability are important factors in life, but esprit de corps, loyalty and trust moves mountains and apparently win championships.
All this was reinforced by Bill Plaschke the next day in his article in the sports section of the Los Angeles Times. While a marvelous writer, Bill’s not always a sentimentalist by any stretch of the imagination. Here he spoke of “hugs and mutual respect”. It’s the kind of expression men aren’t always comfortable with, but can often be found in followers of sport. It immediately brought to mind our very recent Sacred Path Retreat, typically an extraordinary event, but this one was championship caliber as every man there could attest to. That same commitment to each other to operate as a trusting, caring team was evident throughout the week-end. Men don’t often find these kind of opportunities to be there for each other as is found in sports or in real combat for that matter. It’s one reason why many men look to their own playing days on sports teams or the military as among the most meaningful days of their lives.
We did a fire-walk this time, as others may share in this newsletter. I’ll leave it to them to share the details. It is enough to say it was quite an experience. As a metaphor, it parallels the walk through fire that any sports team of men or boys, or females for that matter, go through to end an arduous season with victory. In the Lakers case, it was a repeat championship, no easy task. In our case, it was a victory over fear, doubt and our own sense of limitation.
Plaschke in his article went on to say “the Lakers were champions because they were connected, and Tuesday’s memorable ceremony put a face on that connection while giving voice to its strength”. Our retreats are special because the men on the mountain are connected as well. While we don’t have a long season to grow and bond together, many of us have been attending for over twenty years, and the newest “teammates” seem to quickly find their place among us. It is a recipe that quickly cooks into a richly flavored stew of friendship, camaraderie and trust that is necessary for the events to work. And work they do.
Just as the Lakers have a proud tradition of success, so do the men of the Sacred Path, and my hat’s off to both teams. Both are winners, dedicated to excellence, determination and the love of the experience undertaken and each other. It is part of what’s not just good but what’s great about being a man. May the Lakers and the Men of the Sacred Path know many victories in the future - and in the end - for both teams - it isn’t so much about winning as how you play the game - in sports and in life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
