{Original Post: 12/11/02}
13 " `I will surely strike my hands together at the unjust gain you have made and at the blood you have shed in your midst. 14 Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it. 15 I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness. 16 When you have been defiled in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the LORD.' " Ezekiel 22:13-16
Question: What is does physical affirmation look like for men?
Answer: The hand shake, the “good game” pat on the back side, the high five, the chest bump, the jumping chest bump (for younger men), the elbow lock (although it never really caught on), the forearm pound (that never really caught neither), the helmet butt (make sure you are wearing one), and lastly the knuckle pound, with an explosion for effect.
Why do men do this? I believe the assertive-aggressive masculine form of physical contact tells another man, “Hey you are bringing it right now. Keep it up. I am still strong and you are still strong so let’s get going, bring the noise and win this thing!”
Like POD’s song “Boom!” physical affirmation is a war cry of courage among men, “Boom! Here comes the Boom, ready or not, here comes the boys from the South. Boom! Here comes the Boom! Ready or not, how you like me now? Is that all you got? I'll take your best shot. I'll take your best shot. Is that all you got? Well, it's alright! It's alright! I'll take your best shot.”
So when God says, “I will surely strike my hands together” you had better wait for the boom because, ready or not, here comes God’s best shot!
Courage is the striking of hands, the noise of faith, that causes a person to respond to a given situation or obstacle. Courage is not an option play for a man. From personal experiences as well as readings from courageous men it seems to me that the courageous boast of being common men, but the cowards position themselves as brave.
Courage comes the moment we fail to recognize we have it. Like humility, courage dwells in the subconscious of a man’s heart. To proclaim my humility to the world is to admit my pride, just as chest pumping to build up my courage is to admit my cowardice.
Courage is the latent part of a man that is so ingrained in his character he does not see it, or recognize it. Courage is a trait. Courage is the defining between boys (regardless of age) and men. True courage is unrecognizable in the first person. Courage wakes up and goes to work. Courage is committed to one woman forever. Courage fights for his children. Courage pursues Christ. Courage accepts responsibility and acts accordingly.
Courage is much more of a daily process than a crisis event.
Courage that is conscious and recognizable is a fake-a charlatan. Courage is a matter of the heart, not the head. It is not a response of cognition but of character. In the New American Standard Version God asks, “Can your heart endure?” Just as courage is a response of a man’s heart, it is his heart that compels him to act. Men are fully aware of their heart’s cowardice, but not necessarily when they act in courage. Courage is often seen in hindsight.
I believe what Alex Karras said, “It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more ‘manhood’ to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.”
Toughness, or courage, is deep within a man that causes him to get up every morning and live out what is already rooted and grounded (Ephesians 3:17) in the depths of his soul. Is your courage grounded inside of you today?
