Accountability

Every other Friday morning, before daybreak, a group of men meet for breakfast at a local church.

These are not men who have a great deal of extra time in their lives. These men are professionals...doctors, college administrators, and self employed businessmen who have plenty to do, without committing two hours every other week to having breakfast together. Some have young children, all have wives...all have responsibilities to which they will attend. But, they meet for breakfast. Why breakfast? Our generation generally skips breakfast, or at least eats it on the run. We buy it on the way to work, often at the "drive-through" window. Why would a group of men take time away from their families and jobs to meet for breakfast at 5:30 am? Simply put, when men get together to do much of anything, there had better be food involved.

When we meet for breakfast, there are about eight men who meet for prayer, and to hold one another accountable in their daily lives. Eight men who have given each other permission to ask each other personal, intimate, challenging questions about how they are living their lives. Men who hold one another accountable for the answers.

Everyone needs someone in their life to hold them accountable. If married, our spouse has the right to ask us any question, I repeat, any question. And we have the responsibility to answer the question honestly. We are accountable to one another. But in my life it is beneficial to have other people, other men to hold me accountable. Men who face similar challenges to the ones I face. Similar challenges, similar temptations. Men who will look me in the eye and ask me the hard questions.

Who do you have in your life that will ask you the difficult questions, and not let you escape with a "non-answer"? I don't think it necessarily matters who it is, but we all need someone. Ultimately we are accountable and will answer to God. But, for the time being, I need someone with skin on.