Articles for The Mankind Project of Houston

From the Editor by Mike “Lionman” Leone There aren’t that many current movies that I really get curious about. Still, occasionally I’ll hear about one or another film that will grab my attention, sometimes in spite of myself. Such was the case with the recent film Beowulf. Letting go of my original resistance to see it at all, I finally gave in, and not without first deciding to get ready for it by first reading the eighth-century poem that the film is based on and which is relatively ...

From the Board Chair by Dave “King Snake” Steitz Drumming…faint….distant at first. Then louder, more frequent. Different tones….different pitches. Short bursts…longer phrases…extended solos. Urgent, insistent…inviting....questioning. Men in conversation. Planning... committing…taking action…celebrating. The forest is alive with the voices of passionate and committed men. For the past few months, my cell phone has been buzzing with e-mails from and about the Men of The Mankind ...

New Training Committee Formed at MKPH by Keith “Healing Bear” Liles MKPH Training Coordinator New at MKP Houston for 2008 is the emergence of the Training Committee, and attached to that group of volunteers is the hope for a powerful year of both required and special interest trainings for the Houston Community. Historically, Houston has planned many educational trainings, such as Basic Staff Development Training, Leader Training I and Leader Training II, and others, with the best ...

Teams and Team Goals for 2008 The 2008 Board has taken an unprecedented step by setting up teams to accomplish particular goals to benefit our community. Following is a list of the current members of each team and the goals for that team. Please take a look at the teams, find one that speaks to you, and come help us accomplish these goals. The time is now; the place is here. Communications: Team: Adam Nisenson (chair), Wade Quinn- (legal), Bruce Anderson, Mike Leone (DRUM), Tuong Ngo, ...

Upcoming Service Opportunities Sat April 5: College Part Cemetery Cleanup 7:30 am to 4:00 PM. We need 25 men to help clean up a historic black cemetery in partnership with young probationers. With thanks to Lamont Grogan. To learn about this exciting project, click here: http://www.thinkingpartners.com/MKP/MemorialPark.htm Sat April 26: Homeless Outreach 10:00 am to 2 pm SEARCH serves more than 10,000 homeless people annually, providing them with the tools to work and ...

The Elder Voice by Luis Bautista and Lamont Grogan “An Elder’s work is to synthesize wisdom from long life experience and formulate this into a legacy for future generations.” Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi “What is our legacy?” is the question asked in the new 2008 Elder Action Plan which was presented to the elder body in a March 1st meeting. One of the suggestions put forth is to have elders visit existing I-Groups as guest magicians to personally inform the groups of the elders’ ...

Clothing Drive One of the charitable agencies that Men in Mission is scheduling for volunteer service is SEARCH, located downtown. They provide a wide range of badly needed services, some of which are beyond our capacities, but many of which we can provide. An immediate need is the need for used clothing, specifically men’s, though women’s would be welcome. This is an appeal to you men to bring your retired clothing. They are looking specifically for trousers, jeans, shirts of ...

Blink!! by Kim Sawyer Faerie-like feathers of soothing winter sunlight, invite and caress achingly pretzel-knotted, wounded heart-well of fear. Cavernous – “I will not melt!” “It’s damn cold out there!” quips the twisted organ-in-pain to the dancing, knowing sunbeams of promising warmth. They besiege his ancient, towering ramshackle fortress of forlornitude with sparkling giggles and sighs. “Come play with us!” Seemingly perpetual platitudes of ...

Dance of Life By Kim Sawyer Dance wildly your freedom. Fingers and toes tingle your passion With reckless abandon. Play! Soar on wings of your envisionment. Ascend on swollen thermals of oneness With All, whose spirit ignites And fuels that searing spark Of Soul That, in each and All, serves to conduct the mad, swirling, wondrous Dance of Life. Drink deep draughts of your joy – Rolling invincible waves on the Soul-sea surface. Lifted on massive ...

Song of the New Warrior By Mark “Accepted Deer” Joslin I have walked this field before. It is the field where my father walked, and his before him. But today this field seems fuller than ever, alive with the motion and vibration of life. The grasshopper’s play and the spider’s dance are illumined by the eastern sun. And today I step differently, embracing the chaos, unwary and unfearful of serpents lurking beneath my feet. The southern fire guides me onward. My ...

Modern Hero by Joel Reed [Editor’s Note: The following article originally appeared in the March/April 2002 issue of the online DRUM.] On Sunday, October 8, 2001, I attended a Lectio Divina service and heard a passage that was read that day in many other congregations that follow the Christian tradition. This passage came from the prophet Habakkuk in the ancient Hebrew scriptures: “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear? Or cry to thee ‘Violence!’ and thou ...

On Saturday February, 16th, 2008, 16 Houston New Warriors gathered to be in service for a local church that served meals, provided clothing, and washed laundry for the homeless.

Keynote by Doug von Koss World Elder Gathering IV in Houston, Texas Oct. 26, 2007 [Editor’s Note: In the Fall 2007 issue of the DRUM, we presented the first part of Doug’s keynote from the World Elder Gathering IV held at LOMG. Doug devoted a large part of the keynote to the concept of The Good Enough Elder, who he is, what he does and what we can look for in him. So with this issue we conclude Doug’s talk.] I have been truly blessed to have a lot of great elders in my life. ...

Blue Ridge Fall By Wayland Matthew Fox, Asheville, NC The world, my world, seen through eyes half open, opening Toward closing, weeping, falling apart on October’s mountain— Seeking renewal of the long sleep—like always. As maple and poplar, elm and oak bleeding together downward Upon elderberry, goldenrod and bittersweet, painting the earth With blue red griefs, memories orange and yellow gold, forgetting Who they are, finally brown and black, sleeping. This, their most ...

Open The Box Dedicated to All Fathers by John Meador So one hot August morning, a Saturday yard work day, I was up at 7 am. Knowing it was going to be an all-day affair in the yard, I was ready to go. Also this was the day my son Chris (now “Courageous Coyote”) was going to help me. He went out the night before, promising to help me do yard work on Saturday for the money he needed to go out with on Friday. The skeptic in side of me (the JUDGE) knew he would try to get out of ...

I Was a Soldier Once by Marion Wehmeyer, Vets’ Journey Home Weekend, September 2007 “I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers.” Psalm 116:1. I was a soldier once Proud and true, Who served my country Like so many do. I faced danger on the battlefield, Risked life and limb, Suffered mentally too! My cause was for justice to prevail, Even though I was brought To the gates of hell. I was a soldier once, Right out of school; Young and ...

The Elder Voice Grateful for Everything by Luis Bautista and Lamont Grogan There seems to be consensus in the minds of most people that gratitude facilitates a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment with life. Expressions of gratitude affirm abundance and the wonder of being alive and the presence of so many resources life provides us. How can a Warrior grow in his feeling of gratitude? What practice might deepen a core belief that is rooted in abundance, good fortune, and ...

Interview with Ken Rogers [Ken “Ancient Hawk” Rogers, an NWTA weekend leader emeritus, has lived in Houston with his wife Billi since 1977. He did his weekend in August of 1991 at Haimowoods. His daughter Sonya is a member of Woman Within, and his son-in-law, John Meador, is a Warrior who also has an article in this issue of the DRUM. Ken’s grandson, Chris Thralls, and his father Bob Thralls have both done the training. We asked Ken to tell us a little bit about his enthusiasm for ...

From the Editor by Mike “Lionman” Leone Greetings to all, and I hope you had a great holiday. A few years ago I shared with my I-Group that I had managed to do most of the things with my life that I wanted to do, which was not bad for someone only in his early 50s. I still had three things left on my list and one of them was to do more traveling. I have indeed gotten to do a fair amount of travel during my lifetime, and just about all of it has been related to what others have ...

Tribute to Walter Stauble by John “Loveable Snake” Slaby Nine years ago I took a big step on my journey to being a better man and signed up for a men’s weekend. There I met many men on a similar journey. One man on this same path wore his scars both outside and in. And so Walter came into my life. Over the years, on and off, we traveled this path together. We traveled this path to learn to love ourselves so that we could give love unconditionally, accept ourselves and mirror ...