Title: The Love of a Father: My Calling for a Higher Purpose
Date: June 2024
Author: Noah

This Father’s Day I can’t help but feel undeserving. I have a father who loves and cares for me unconditionally. No matter what I look like, no matter where I am, no matter how I act—he loves me. This love is the kind of expression that makes me feel as if it has not been earned. But the reality is, true love never has to be earned. True love always has to be shared. These are the conditions instilled in me by my father who I try to emulate with every breath I take. I interpret the love shown to me as a contractual obligation, as my father expects me to give what I get. On my own terms, I have opted in. Unconditional love is the condition of my perspective, and it leads me to care deeply about those who are robbed of the love they deserve.

I am a Christian. I am a man. My father is a man too. He is a righteous man. He is a just man. And he is a man, like me, who is the son of a woman. The heaviness felt in my heart understanding that one in six women in America alone have been victims of an attempted or completed sexual assault is indescribable. That is just what is reported. I have heard more women tell me stories of being sexually compromised to varying degrees of trauma than I have not. It is almost always a man who commits these heinous acts. Statistically, 99% of the time, it is a man. To undermine women on the basis of their biology is to undermine God on the basis of His humanity. To ignore the cries for help is to ignore His will. They are not crying wolf. The wolf is in the room with them. You just don’t want to see it. Facts don’t lie.

Underrepresented and historically ostracized communities face an insurmountable challenge worldwide, a challenge that remains undefeated in the face of masculine pride and societal ego. Our widely-taught world history of male dominance has constructed a culture that is afraid to trust the stories of those who disrupt the established narrative. People are given passes for humanitarian evils based on identity and accolades alone. The narrative that encourages patriarchal exploitation in our communities is the same narrative that breeds degenerate ideologies reducing women to nothing more than possession and object, product and property. This story needs to change.

This is why I chose to help Women at Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) in their mission to create circles of protection around those at risk. My perspective fosters a deeper understanding of the traditional masculine culture that directly and indirectly influences the diminishment of women’s voices every day. For me, the desire to support WAR, Int’l stems from a divine sense of responsibility—a responsibility not only to those directly affected by the injustices of this world but also to future generations bound to the trauma of those before them. Like a father to the fatherless, I am compelled to stand in the gap, to advocate for those who cannot safely advocate for themselves, and to ensure that every individual, regardless of circumstance, is afforded the opportunity to be loved.

My relationship with my father is a reflection of our shared humanity, our interconnectedness, and our inherent dignity as creations of a higher power. Though not always explicit, there is an undeniable spiritual component to our work—a recognition that we are called to be stewards of justice and compassion, and to embody the values of empathy and solidarity in all that we do.

Supporting WAR, Int’l is deeply intertwined with my walk in faith and my understanding of fatherhood—a concept that transcends mere biological relation and encompasses a broader, more encompassing sense of responsibility. Like the Father I put my faith in, I am compelled to stand as a pillar of strength, to provide guidance and support to those who have been left to navigate the complexities of life on their own.

This sense of paternal duty is not driven by obligation but by a deep-seated empathy that reveals the profound impact that a father figure can have on the life of a child, and the lasting scars that can result from its absence. It is a calling that beckons me to step forward, to fill the void left by abandonment and neglect, and to become a steadfast ally in the journey towards healing and restoration. My Father has shown me the power of grace, sacrifice, humility, and forgiveness. I intend to mirror these teachings in order to bring refuge to those who need it.

Moreover, my involvement with WAR, Int’l is not confined to geographical boundaries or cultural divides. It is a global movement, a chorus of voices united in pursuit of a common goal: a world where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. Knowing that my small contributions to WAR, Int’l have a global impact on those at risk gives me hope that others will walk with me on this journey to enlightenment.

In this sense, my support for WAR, Int’l is not merely an obligation—it is a blessing. It is a privilege to be part of something greater than myself and to contribute to a legacy of hope and resilience that transcends generations. It is a privilege to bear witness to the transformative power of compassion and solidarity and to see firsthand the profound impact that a single act of kindness can have on the trajectory of a life.

In supporting WAR, Int’l, I embrace the role of a father to the fatherless, recognizing that my actions have the power to shape the destinies of those in need. Whether I speak of my own relationships, advocate for economic empowerment initiatives, or simply offer a listening ear and a compassionate heart, every act of support is a testament to my commitment to nurturing and protecting the most vulnerable among us.

My role as a father to the fatherless extends beyond mere material assistance; it is a spiritual commitment to the well-being and flourishing of people struggling to use their voices. It is a commitment to instill a sense of belonging and worth, cultivate resilience and self-confidence, and empower those I serve to realize their full potential.

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