Mentoring Our Boys –

“The Thing-in-a-Box”

I began meeting monthly with a group of men and boys when my son was thirteen years old. To instill a sense of purpose for the group, I introduced the group’s plan with an illustration. I contrasted the same images from Anakin’s training into Jedi Knighthood with a medieval squire’s training to become a knight.

I conspicuously revealed a long cardboard box. When asked, I refused to disclose its contents. The boys began referring to the mysterious contents as “the thing-in-a-box.” Later, I dramatically wielded from the box a toy light saber, similar to the one used by the Star Wars Jedi Knight. I described the rebellious nature of Anakin Skywalker and explained that, like Anakin, teenagers tend to rebel against their mentors and other authorities. Anakin ultimately gave in to the “Dark Side.” I then ceremoniously brandished a Medieval Crusader sword from the box. I explained that our group’s purpose for meeting regularly was to help counter this rebellious nature and bring the boys up into manhood, resisting the barriers of rebellion. To this day, five years later, the boys still refer to the sword as ‘the ‘thing-in-a-box.”

Posted on January 31st, 2008 by Jeff Purkiss
Filed under: Cultural Issues, Fathering/Mentoring, Rebellious Teens