Quest.05: Remembering Dad

This week we delved into how a dad impacts the life of a man, specific considering if we have entered manhood wounded. Next week we will consider how we need to take responsibility for our behavior that is a result of this wound.

Robert Lewis gave this definition for the Absent Father Wound:

An ongoing emotional, social or spiritual DEFICIT ordinarily met in a HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP with Dad that must now be overcome by other means.

The Absent Father Wound results in anger and pain, extreme behaviors & addictions, Inner sense of incompleteness, and/or homosexuality.

We also looked at what every son needs from his father.

• Time Together
• Lifeskills
• Direction w/ solid "why" answers
• Modeled convictions
• Dad's Heart--"I love you", "I'm proud of you", "You're good at . . . "

Guys, it's not about blaming Dad, only about understanding how we got where we are. Often, our dad's didn't know any better or different. The question at hand is: "Are we going to take responsibility for our actions and change not that we understand?"

I know some of you had better backgrounds than others. Let's rejoice in that and help those that didn't out, by sharing in their struggle and encouraging them as they work through it.

Okay guys, if you are ready, what are your thoughts/responses to the question for this session:

1. What are three words (or phrases) that describe how you remember your Dad?
2. Which, if any, of the four results of the Absent Father Wound could you most identify with? Why?
3. If you could ask your Dad for one things and get it, what would it be? Explain.