Well, I would be doing an injustice to not talk about how amazing the women were at camp this summer. There is a vicious cycle in society of men not respecting women, women becoming desensitized and not expecting any respect, therefore, disrespecting themselves which then leads to men disrespecting them even more. Women in this community respected themselves. The men in this community respected them. This was also a constant cycle; however, it looked the exact opposite. Men respected the women, the women respected themselves, and that relationship only fed the system, as both sides mutually called the other to something higher than our culture demands. This summer helped me see that what I have been taught growing up is an actual possibility to turn around our culture. I received some valuable insight about women early on in the summer. I've been making an effort to make women feel more confident in who they are by complimenting them on their looks, telling them that they look nice. Here are a few of the thoughts that I took away from this discussion.
Compliment them on their virtues rather than their physical appearance. Both approaches are attempts at making women less self-conscious about how the world tells them they're supposed to look; however, commenting on their virtues on only leads them away from that mindset, but it also shows them where true beauty resides. I know that's kind of cheesy but it really is true. Physical attraction is just so frail. It simply does not last.
Aaron imparted some wisdom about the intention behind the male Sherpa Staff. It's not just about the food. "We could hire a chef to cook for 90 people, no problem." We live in a society that uses and abuses women in more ways that I can count or even care to think about. It's disgusting. The male Sherpa Staff is a lesson in counter-culture. We are serving all of these beautiful women with no hidden agenda. We do it because we love and care about their well-being. I pray that the women - especially the young girls - will take note of how men ought to treat them. I hope to teach the young men who will be coming to camp that same thing; the respect that women inherently deserve.
Young men are so confused in today's world. They see what society tells them they should be, so when someone shows them that that is actually not how men should treat women, they're awestruck. I want women to know what beautiful creations they are.
Now, the real challenge is bring that back to the world. It was super easy up at camp. I'm certainly not one to disrespect women, but as a man I feel that I have an obligation to call others to that, to show women that they are more than what the world tells them they are. It's a huge mission. Odds are seemingly against us. But for any man who is with me on this one, we've got someone on our side who I think gives us at least a slight advantage. Jesus Christ. Men, we were made to be courageous. We were made for protection. Let's stop our childish ways of treating women like garbage and hold them up like the princesses they are.
Great song by Casting Crowns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkM-gDcmJeM
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