Turn Towards It

I watched “Minari” the other day. The beautiful film about Korean immigrants to the American South. They see a snake. The kid throws a stone in its direction. The grandmother says: “don’t do that, you will scare it, and it will hide.”

I can’t get over the wisdom implied. 

It is better when we can see the snakes. They are dangerous. So it is best to know where they are.

“Turning towards” the thing. “Turning towards it.” Facing it. Seeing it. Looking at it with open eyes. This is a core practice of conscious masculinity. Whatever the thing may be. No matter how terrifying it is. It is better to look at it than to allow it to hide.

A hole in your marriage. An unhealthy pattern in relationships. An addiction. That problem in your work life that goes persistently unresolved. A lack of care for your body, health and vitality. A problematic relationship with porn. 

A failure to aim high and become anchored in purpose. 

A lack of engagement with the Great Mystery. A failure to contend with the ineffable and the divine.

Whatever it might be. Turn.Towards.It.

Not a lone wolf stance. But a willing one. Maybe therapy. A coach or a peer-coach. A 12-Step Group. It might be exercise or meditation. Man friends or a solid men’s group. Medicine work. A spiritual community. Journaling. Walking.

Turn towards the thing.

It’s how men become men.

Loving you,

Gibrán