Bible Passage: “Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:11 NIV)
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 18:1-4
2025 was a great Major League Baseball season. I am a Blue Jays fan (Canadian obligation), and it was so fun watching how close they came to winning the World Series.
Here’s something I noticed:
Whenever there was a significant victory—like the Division Series win or the Conference Series win—there was celebration by the entire team.
And what did that celebration look like? Did they calmly and stoically shake hands with each other? Did they tip their hats to each other from a distance?
No!
They jumped into each other’s arms. They dog-piled each other. There was a great physical connection between them.
It is the same in hockey and soccer and basketball.
Nobody watching those exchanges felt awkward or uncomfortable at such outward displays of love.
I have been to funerals, weddings, and airports, and have seen the same warmth of physical affection.
That’s because men need the warmth that physical affection brings.
It is not a sign of weakness to show this kind of connection between men.
Full disclosure, I am a hugger, and I get it that not everyone is. But I still believe that men need this in their lives.
I once served at a church for seven years, and when I left, there was a going-away party. An opportunity was given for people to speak, and they were able to share whatever they wanted.
One forty-year-old man stood up and said he was grateful for the hugs I gave him. What he said next gripped my heart:
“I haven’t been hugged by another guy since I was five years old.”
Whatever joy and delight and camaraderie those professional athletes experienced after their big games, this guy knew none of that kind of affection.
But that was not the intended plan for him.
Don’t be afraid of physical affection, guys. It’s cool. It’s okay. It’s needed.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know the reasons for my hesitancy in showing affection to other men. I pray that You would heal anything in me that needs healing in this way. Help me not to be afraid to put a hand on a brother’s shoulder or even to give them a hug. You created us for that kind of warmth. Please don’t let my ego get in the way of what You have in mind for me. Amen.
Reflection: Are you a hugger or a hand-shaker? What might keep a man from being physically affectionate to another man? What kind of stigmas in our culture keep men from that kind of affection?
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