Ice Cold Camaraderie

We were sitting around a table at the beach rental when Jackson, my friends 13 year old son uttered the words I was hoping not to hear; "I want to get in the water." There was a moment of silence and then guys slowly got up to get prepared for the experience that lay ahead.

Nothing unusual about getting in the water any other time of year,  but this was a freezing February night and snow had begun to fall. This was a polar bear plunge rather than a quick dip in the pool. We rounded up for a quick picture as masculine energy filled the air.

Something was stirring in the hearts of this group of men as we walked the short distance to the water. It's somewhat hard to explain but there was a growing sense of camaraderie.  A growing sense of, "we're doing something crazy - together!" 

At water's edge we stripped down and laid out our towels and clothes for a quick retrieval. Then with yells and shouts reminiscent of a scene from "Braveheart", we ran headlong into the water as the icy cold swallowed our shouts and our bodies. 

It was a quick in and quicker out as we hurried to our towels, clothes and warmth. In our fast paced return to the house, we laughed, shared, and celebrated our experience like a team of men who had won a national championship. We had experienced something significant together. In those quickly passing 15 minutes we had bonded in a way that few men do after their college years. 

Men created in God's image, long for connection and camaraderie with other men. This is what gets men involved with soft ball leagues, running groups, and drinking buddies. An experience of camraderie is a significant part of how God grows men in the "grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18)  This is how men grow God shaped lives.

Men will often do together what they wouldn't be motivated to do on their own. That night we saw a glimpse of God's design. We were reminded that we were created for more. More than success, material wealth, and self accomplishment. We were created for God's Glory, for each other, and for Ice Cold Camaraderie. 

A word for married men about Valentine's Day

I would imagine many men will do today what I just did.  I just opened the card I bought my wife for Valentine's Day and began the hard work of thinking through what I wanted to write. Of course in order to write anything I had to take time to think through what I wanted to communicate.

It began somewhat typically, "there are so many things I love about you", "I've loved our first 8 months of marriage", etc.  But as I thought about what I wanted to communicate something unusual happened. I began to remember the things I really appreciate about my wife - the things that first attracted me to her like her sweet laugh and smile and how she can light up a room with her energy - things that I seem to so easily take for granted now that we're married.

I also found myself wondering how it is that just 8 short months into what I pray will be many years of marriage, I could get into the routine of marriage and miss the beauty, significance, and joy that comes from companionship. I get that we get busy and that marriage isn't all about feeling "in love" with our spouses all the time, but I couldn't help but try and examine what was lacking.

I think honestly for me it was simply that I haven't spent much time thinking lately about the things I like about my wife. In the midst of the day in and day out it honestly has been easier to think about the differences in our approach to keeping the house clean or how we approach scheduling our time, etc... When I began to intentionally think about Danielle; who she is, what I appreciate about her, how much more wonderful her presence makes my life,  I realize how much I value her. I realize how significant she is to me.

I think there is a parallel to be seen here as well in our relationship with the Lord. Going through the hustle and bustle of the day - our routine, without an opportunity - even a short 10 to 15 minute opportunity to think about our God - who he is, what I appreciate about Him, how much more wonderful His presence makes my life. I realize how significant He is to me.

For what it's worth - I hope you will make the time to get cozy with your wife this Valentine's Day - to sit and talk with her and enjoy her.  I also hope that maybe this little blurb will encourage you to sit down sometime over the next few days, at coffee shop, out in your backyard, or in your favorite chill spot, and just open the Scriptures and sit and talk with and enjoy the Lord. Here's to the simple yet significant things!