Older age brings us to think about many things. Especially, there are memories that come to speak to us. Today is 48 years since my father crossed over to the next life. I have missed him greatly at many times in my life. Oh, we disagreed about many things. And he died young before we could resolve those disagreements, to my detriment.
There have also been many other older men mentors in my life, two fathers-in-law and some employers/supervisors from which I learned much. Being a man in this time of great upheaval, the time of woman rising, is a very challenging time. The current generations of men seem to have little firm foundation upon which to stand. I hope I’ll get a chance at some point in the future to share many more thoughts. But I just wanted to share a couple here and now, as I am in the midst of great learning currently.
Theoden, King
Dad was not defined solely by his time in the military in World War II. He was a part of what has been called “America’s Greatest Generation.“ He also fought many personal battles. Here, from insignias from his uniform, the 90th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. His wartime experiences were very different from most, but still had a large impact upon him.
Dad learned the important lesson of life, to endure.
New King James Version:
▸ h5975. עָמַד ‘âmaḏ; a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive): — abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, + serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-)stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
AV (521) – stood 171, stand 137, (raise, stand…) up 42, set 32, stay 17, still 15, appointed 10, standing 10, endure 8, remain 8, present 7, continue 6, withstand 6, waited 5, establish 5, misc 42;
- to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand
- (Qal)
- to stand, take one’s stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of
- to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease
- to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast
- to make a stand, hold one’s ground
- to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright
- to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against
- to stand with, take one’s stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid
- (Hiphil)
- to station, set
- toe cause to stand firm, maintain
- to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect
- to present (one) before (king)
- to appoint, ordain, establish
- (Hophal) to be presented, be caused to stand, be stood before
- (Qal)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln’s_second_inaugural_address
At a time in the life of our country, where division is now perhaps the worst it has been since the War Between the States, I think it is important to say that taking a stance in the middle between two extremes is quite unpopular, and may lead to oppression from both sides. Taking a stance in the middle is still taking a stance.
Well, my apologies. You can see I tried several times, different ways, to link to the YouTube video of Aaron Tippin singing You’ve Got to Stand for Something or You’ll Fall for Anything. I encourage you to listen. I also don’t know how to get these failures to go away.
Lyrics
Now daddy didn’t like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him; knew which side that he’d be on
He never was a hero, or this county’s shinin’ light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right
He’d say, “you’ve got to stand for something
Or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what’s right and uphold your family name
You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything”
Now we might have been better off or owned a bigger house
If daddy had done more givin’ in or a little more backing down
But we always had plenty just living his advice
Whatever you do today, you’ll have to sleep with tonight
He’d say you’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what’s right and uphold your family name
You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything
I know that things are different than they were in daddy’s days
But I still believe what makes a man really hasn’t changed
You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what’s right and uphold your family name
You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything
You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Aaron Tippin / William Brock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
⦁ Luke 9:23-25
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
At times in our own personal lives we may feel unworthy to join our fathers because of unwise decisions we have made in our own lives. As we age, those failures become more and more apparent to us. All the more reason to take a stance, especially when crucifixion, assassination, or even a more typical crossing over, may lie on the horizon. Remember when Peeta says twice in the Hunger Games series that there is something worse than death, and that is forfeiting who he is as a person.
This is a tribute to my dad and to the many men who helped to shape my life. May I someday feel worthy to join you. You are men.
Ⓒ Copyright Philip E. Gates; LogAndSpeck.com September 2025