Becoming the "Man in the Arena"

Becoming “The Man in the Arena”.

Greetings friends!!!  

A couple of weeks ago, another friend suggested Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly.  I am amazed with that book. It is going to take me a few more days to understand and write about it.

She uses the concept of the “Man in the Arena”  by Teddy Roosevelt in 1910:

“"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."  (this version from: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63389/roosevelts-man-arena)

She pointed out that there are the critics, there are those on the sidelines who point at the man doing the work - the man in the arena.  

That spoke to me.  I need to relearn this.  It is way-too-easy to point fingers at those that are doing the work and laugh at his or her mistakes.  Unfortunately, it humbled me - as I have pointed out mistakes by the current administration (aka “The Trump Administration”).  There are areas where I can disagree with the president on philosophy and direction - and that seems to be where American democracy is now.  But, like it or not, that person is “the man who is actually in the arena.”. Did he do well with this coronavirus (COVID-19) situation? Maybe, maybe not - could I have done better?  Probably not!!!  

I write about ‘going the extra mile”, “walking a mile in a person’s shoes”.  And, yet, I want, I desire, I “have to” point out his shortcomings - and then GLOAT.  I have been wrong. Being the President of the United States is NOT an easy task.  I have commented on why I would not want to be the President.

The President is in the spotlight - or in Roosevelt’s words, the “Man in the Arena”..  As you know I tend to quote scripture from my Judeo-Christian philosophy. Jesus commented about John the Baptist who fasted, ate wild honey and locusts (not the diet I want), and then how the pharisees complained that Jesus “came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'”

Maybe I have been taking myself too seriously - I can comment all I want, but I’m not the one that is ‘in the arena’.  The person in the arena is vulnerable, has to be authentic and alive.  

Every step that person takes can be scrutinized and criticized.

I have been the “Man in the Arena” (and who knows, maybe now I’, the “Woman in the Arena”.  I have had my life inspected and criticized (and also praised). As Kermit the Frog opined “It's not easy being green”. 

But, I can’t skulk out of the arena.  I can’t go hide in the locker room. And, likewise, the President can be criticized and praised for whatever he does.  While I disagree with his actions, his words and can consider him to be a bully, he is still the Person in the Arena - in the spotlight.  All of our Presidents get lambasted. In this day-and-age, we have sound bytes of everything that person has ever done.  

From my days (long time ago), teaching PHIL 208 Reasoning and Logic, we have this: “Ad Hominem Description: Attacking the person making the argument, rather than the argument itself, when the attack on the person is completely irrelevant to the argument the person is making.”  

Who am I to criticize?   And, the ultimate analysis - who am I to judge!!!  I say I don’t want to judge and then my words are false.

Brene Brown talks about being vulnerable and authentic.  And, about being the Person in the Arena. I can’t speak for him, but I can look at myself and reflect that I’ve been pretty shallow and judgmental. 

I can justify it as “everybody does it” (that is, judges somebody else).  But, that “everybody does it” is not a valid argument for doing it. “Everybody cheats on their taxes” - doesn’t mean that I can or should cheat on my taxes.

So, in the next few days I will be looking at Brene Brown’s book and try to suggest ideas to make us stronger people.  And, I will be licking my wounds from condemning people I really don’t know - and that I haven’t made an effort to know.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

If you will (and I’m not sure you can stop me), let me pray “God bless our President and our leaders - give him and them wisdom, discernment, and understanding on how to lead in these times.”  

Hugs!!

Karen