Fathers & Sons

(The following article first appeared on the June 14, 2003 issue of the Mindanao Cross).

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Fathers and Sons

There is this story of a Manobo family starting its day before daybreak.  The family stove is at the center of the cogon-roofed house.  As the mother goes about preparing breakfast of root crops and a few fish, the children gather around the fire for some warmth.

The father gets his bolo, maybe a spear or a bow and arrow, and joins the children.  He tells stories about how he gathered food the day before; assigns the eldest son for some tasks so that he will be a good food gatherer by the time he grows up.  The rest of the children are assigned tasks that are fit for their respective ages -- who will feed the chickens, etc.  They talk about how they want to see the day ahead.

Ah, some corporate meeting in a different setting.  The challenge for the present-day father has never changed -- no, it has changed.  The challenge has grown bigger.  Blessed is the family whose fathers can gather his children and discuss matters that directly affect them.  It is a rarity these days where fathers run corporate or organizational meetings and meet the family for the same purposes.  

The third Sunday of June is celebrated as Father's Day.  The call of the times is for fathers to save their families from disintegrating.  There are just too many temptations around that threaten the family.  The father should now go back to being in charge -- and raise sons who will also be in turn good fathers when their time will come.  

According to Dr Philip J Mango, President of St Michael's Institute for Psychological Sciences (www.stmichael.net):  "There is a masculinity crisis in society today.  Men are not doing what they are supposed to do, because we are not training boys to be the men they are supposed to be.  Men have to be heroes, persons who transcend their egos, fears and selfishness, and make sacrifices of themselves as a gift for those they have been called to protect." (Why We Need Heroes, Faith & Family Magazine, Spring 2003).  

Thank God, many fathers will be spending Father's Day with their sons doing what men are supposed to do: go to church, have brisk physical exertion like basketball, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, helping Mom around the house with some carpentry work, do some gardening, do some volunteer work, etc.  Much better than a seemingly more feminine pastime of hanging out in the mall or shopping.  (Ah, look what advertising has done to males).

To all the Fathers in the world revive the masculine tradition. God Bless You!


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