LIFE INSIDE OUT – REAL MEN June 15, 2008
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Uncategorized.Tags: Caring, Entitlement, Integrity, Kind, Real Men, Tim Russert, Truth
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If I could point to a single man who exemplified what a life lived INSIDE OUT would look like in our world today, it would be Tim Russert. Known for his program, Meet the Press on NBC, he was suddenly snatched from us last week. He passionately lived from his heart, which sadly gave out on him at the young age of 58 – right before Father’s Day, which is oddly significant. Fatherhood was such a vital part of him as the only son of Big Russ and as father to his only son, Luke.
His dad, Big Russ now 88, was immortalized in his book Big Russ and Me, which was all about the legacy his dad instilled in him to live and love 100% from his heart. His dad stressed one thing that Tim has lived by and used as a bench mark in raising his own son, Luke. “Always know that you are loved, but not entitled.” Holding to this truth, he remained humble, real and loving to all. He was the same man with everyone, whether a laborer or a President.
Our world is in dire need of men who, like Tim, can be strong and male and still be grounded in self knowledge so deeply that they can be soft and caring. The fact that he was so dedicated to integrity made him the “gold standard” of political and social journalism. His command of the truth exposed the counterfeits that found themselves in his presence proving the power of living from one’s heart. He was never mean or controlling. He simply and strongly pursued the truth until the interviewee revealed it.
It takes great courage and strength to hold to the “gold standard of truth” in a world awash in lies, deception and ego trips. But every single time we make the choice for truth with ourselves and others we enlarge our hearts and our world. The fact that the world press revered this trait in Tim is his legacy to us, the public he worked so hard to serve. From this we can hope that others will realize how vital it is to put truth ahead of profit in our media and corporate board rooms.
Real men are so desperately needed in our ailing world right now. We can’t tolerate any more “boy men” needing to prove themselves, using the world as their private playground for power plays and war games. This routine is part of the old patriarchy that’s been driving civilization into the ground for a few thousand years. We crave to have men who are strong but also grounded enough to live Inside Out from the heart.
I think this is possible and that it can happen quickly. Because of economic and political turmoil worldwide, people are tired of the status quo and business as usual politics. We want to believe in ourselves and our leaders. We want to honor our heartfelt convictions.
When we experience the shock of losing great men who give their lives to do the right thing we wake up. We hear a call from within to rise to a higher standard. Mediocre isn’t okay anymore. If we don’t do our best it isn’t worth doing. Every moment counts. Every person counts. There are no “accidents”. We never know when our heart will punch our ticket and tell us the trip is over.
The wakeup call is becoming louder and louder, “Make life count every moment.” But, we can be so distracted and busy that we don’t hear. A shock like Tim’s passing can be very precious and sacred, especially if we take it to heart by stopping and listening to our own hearts within.
I hope men as well as women around our country and the world will hear the message of these men’s lives, and have courage to live for truth Then they may just “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks”. Isaiah 2:4
scorpi2000 added about 16 hours ago
I’m a single dad, I’ve been with my son since before birth. talking to him while he was still in his mothers womb. Seconds after birth he recognized my voice opened his eyes and smiled at me while reaching out. I raised my son as a single father since he was three. That’s him next to the D.N.A. model we worked on together. That’s also him at three years old at the end of the video. “Please daddy dont leave”.
This song was inspired by him. WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK MY SON SAID CRYING PLEASE DADDY DON’T LEAVE, STAY WITH ME. I PROCEEDED TO WORK THAT DAY WITH TEARS IN MY EYES, AND AFTERWARD TOOK MANY DAYS OFF TO GIVE HIM WHAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN NEED.
UNITED SCHOLASTIC STUDENT MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAM was also inspired by him and my experience with the public school system.
I live in the city, an African American neighborhood, where their is a lack of fathers present to support and giude their children.
I sacrificed jobs and money to personally walk my son thru his formative years. I really felt all alone, mostly mothers and their children. Many without fathers present in their lives. I sacrificed also dating because I felt it would distract me from my double duties. His mother was not available. Many mothers overwhelmed me with their request for me to be there for their children and be a good influence for their sons too. Where were their fathers ? Some working, some not there. I reluctantly turned the mothers down because, they were not willing to make the same sacrifices. They were not aware of the some of the issues and beleifs I was instilling in my son that were absent in their lives. Not only did I not have time or extra to sacrifice ,but trying to combine the up bringing of my child, as a single father and help with their children, would have been too much for me to handle . Being an only child I took on the roll of being father, mother, brother, and friend.
I taught him computers before kindergarten, and stayed close to him all along the way as he maintained an A average. He graduated from grammar school Valedictorian 3.9 average. I was so proud of him and glad I made the sacrifice.
Hes a junior in high school now, and so far wer’e beating the odds…….Now college ,,,,some how Im going to pull that off too.
A Fathers Involvement makes a Biiiiig difference.
Thanks
SCORPI2000
Thank you again for your “real man” life experience. I hope many men (and women) read your post. I would be interested to know what your father was like and what positive or negative influence he had on you that instilled the desire to be a wonderful dad to your son.
Our whole culture is suffering from a lack of understanding and training as to how vital a child’s life is from birth to at least puberty. For thousands of years, children were considered non-entities. It was even believed throughout most of the 20th century that what you did to children didn’t affect them. You hear many people even today relate things like, “I was abused and beat up by my parents and I turned out okay”. They have stuffed the hurt and shame and denied their feelings. Then they project them onto others in the lives in the present.
Your exemplary role with your son is paying off. You have invested your heart in his life and he knows this in his heart. This is also what Tim Russert did with his son and what his father did with him. If we can encourage more men to live from their hearts the world would shift on its axis for sure!
Thank you again for sharing.
Shirley Hart