Archive for April 16th, 2025

April 16, 2025

Do what you can do…..

by Rod Smith

You might not be able to move mountains, but you can move part of one for someone, even if it is handful of rocks and stones and a shovel or two of hindrances. 

Might not be able to turn water into wine, but you can offer sustaining food and beverage to someone who is in desperate need of recognition and who also may be hungry.

You cannot raise the dead but you can bring enthusiasm and enliven someone’s day with your call, your card, your good wishes, your loving thoughts expressed directly to him or her. 

You probably cannot restore hearing to the deaf or sight to the blind, but you are able to listen even to the most desperate attempt to communicate with you, and you are able to see the person who might never have been truly seen.

You may not feel overly empowered to make a significant difference in your immediate environment, but you can forgive those who have hurt you and set free those whom you believe may owe you something, and makes a huge difference in their lives.

You’re probably not set up to bring peace to conflicting world powers but you are capable of living in peace with your neighbors.

Last evening in Penang
April 16, 2025

Today’s paper…..

by Rod Smith
April 16, 2025

A challenge for men to intentionally cultivate friendship and support…

by Rod Smith

It’s no secret that many men avoid deeper intimacy with other men. I suggest it would be helpful for men to form intentional support “MWE groups” or “Men Without Egos.”

While “WWW” for “Women Without Walls” is not original, I did come up with MWE.

Here are some guidelines to establish such a group:

1. Meet for a decided period of time, say monthly for 10 months, and for two hours. Begin by phoning and inviting 9 or 10 men you already somewhat know. This act makes you the facilitator.

2. Try to create a group that is diverse with age, race, and belief. I’d suggest every group have at least two members who are from different generations in the same family.

3. You may not discuss your career, achievements, sport, or politics.

4. Read a book together and talk about it for at least 15 minutes of each meeting. I’d suggest you begin with David Scharch’s Passionate Marriage which will challenge every aspect of every relationship you have.

5. Laugh a lot, cry sometimes, listen more than you talk, and call each other between meetings, and never discuss someone not present (not even your wife).