Jim Ellis 
Editor

There was a time when men mattered.

And it was more than their gift of a simple 300 million sperm (sperms?) that helped – post ejaculation – in the continuation of the human species.

There was a time when men mattered.

A time when you could actually say you were a “man,” taking a stand as a man, not to be followed with a strange look, an embarrassed snicker, a confused stare or a homophobic dash away.

There was a time when being a man arrived with certain honors:

• Guiding the young males on their journey through initiations into adulthood.
• Showing the ways of the force – tying a shoe, tying a tie.
• Teaching how to smile while telling the white lie to ma and sister, in order to keep the peace.
• Allowing a young one to falter and fail, watching on – with pure patience – as the young ones figured it out on their own … but not alone.
• Glowing with pride – with no need for acknowledgement – for the success of those influenced by their presence.

This wasn’t the Father Knows Best “know-it-all” dad or the Brady Bunch “bad-hair” dad. But the father of fatherhood – that ancient way of being for the purely masculine, when men mattered.

It was a time when the men were the protective force, watchdogs for bullies who would harm the feminine. It was a time when the men were the ones picking up handkerchiefs for those who caught their fancy or who had clear enough “come hither” messages. It was a time when men held pride for the success of something outside of themselves – the influence they had on family, community, society, humanity.

This was a time before they destroyed themselves by making sure their masculine presence didn’t matter.

• Out of fear
• Out of laziness
• Out of stupidity
• Out of selfishness
• Out of depression
• Out of hopelessness
• Out of unconsciousness

Whatever the case may be, it is time to awaken, to a time before. And awaken to a time that is now. Perhaps, just perhaps, the time when men mattered is not a time period at all. No, it might simply exist across all timelines and time-frames, born in the primordial, and ready to be reborn in the present now.

Men having value? Men mattering? Yes, there is a time…

James Anthony Ellis is an award-winning playwright, journalist and filmmaker, who is the author of eight books, including the men-focused “The Honor Book” available HERE.