Why "Simple Man"?

I frequently get asked why my pseudonym is "Simple Man", and what's the story behind calling my project "Simple Men". Here's the answer.

Mama told me when I was young
"Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this it'll help you
Some sunny day"

Masculinity is the hot topic of discussion nowadays.

The popular claim is that masculinity is a non-concept, a fake invention that has no real meaning other than whatever each man wants it to mean.

“Wearing make up doesn’t make you less of a man.”
“Being a fat slob doesn’t make you less of a man".”
“Being a whiny coward doesn’t make you less of a man.”

Being a man, they claim, means literally nothing. Take a concept that is important and a fundamental aspect of the identity of half of the population, and bastardize it and minimize its meaning to appease lesser men and the sensitivities of women and you end up taking away a big chunk of the roadmap that guides young men towards a purposeful life.

I’ve been watching the state of men closely for the last few years, and I’ve seen the look of confusion in their eyes when trying to know how a man should act.

They try to take a step and become leaders and get backlash for”mansplaining”.
They try to build their physiques up and the world calls them “fatphobic”.
They try to protect their country and way of life and the world calls them racist and nazis.
They try to lead their women and they tag them “misogynists”.

No wonder so many end up lost and resentful. I know I was before.

In my search for a path and a way forward I saw many options, many gurus, many fake idols, many paths that promised fulfilment. And yet there was always something missing.

And hillariously enough, all it took to push me towards the right path was a popular rock n’ roll song. Don’t ask me how or why, but I heard its lyrics, and felt it was such good advice for a young man that I named my entire project after it.

The song, of course, is “Simple Man”, by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Oh, take your time, don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You’ll find a woman and you'll find love
And don't forget, son, there is someone up above

Off to a strong start. The first line hits home immediately. If there’s one thing we are as a society, is rushed. We run from place to place, meeting to meeting, and too often miss most of our lives waiting for a better future. Our days are spent in traffic and under the stress of always being late to something. We sacrifice our youth, energy, hair, and health in the hopes of finding fulfilment through a career, a bigger apartment, a nicer couch, and the status of a fake job title.

We also get too caught up in those troubles from our stressful lives that mean nothing in the long-term and should hold no power over us. They come and go and we woner how we let ourselves become so worried.

And the promise of love… After a certain age this becomes one of the questions our heart asks frequently. And mama answers categorically: “you’ll find her eventually. Don’t worry.”

How about the last line, bringing the message home, reminding us to live not for the kingdom of this world, but for the Kingdom of Heaven? Everything else flows from this truth. No way to a good life without holding God at the center of it. And we are reminded that He’s there through the hard times, through the times of doubt, giving us the strength we often feel we don’t have.

And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can?

A simple man. Something easy to understand. Direct. Honest. Easygoing. Stable. Courageous. What a contrast from the manipulating, emotional, unstable man-children that are taking over our culture. What a difference from the old, corrupt, washed up politicians trying to hoard as much as they can from the people before their eventual demise to hell.

All you are called to be is a simple man: fearful of God, honest in his ways, hard working, honorable, courageous, loyal, strong, and caring. You don’t need to overcomplicate and overthink your every action, but decide on a code that is clear, simple and easy to follow.

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, oh, baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied

To be able to control our greed and lust for the temptations the world offers. To remember that the answer lies within us, and a meaningful life is not one spent chasing trinkets and gold. To know that all the money in the world won’t fill the hole in your soul. But there is a warning here as well: we’ll only manage to reject such temptations if we try, that is, if we make an effort to do so.

Choose self-control and sacrifice or be driven by inertia towards a life devoid of true satisfaction. Mom knows better, and she knows it’s not in great riches that our heart will find peace, but in surrendering our soul to something higher and trusting God with our hearts.

Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh, baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied

A final reminder that all the important answers of this life won’t be found in the studies or the dry analysis of science, but in the heart and soul, in the intangible, inexplicable fire that you hold within.

Mama finishes her speech by reminding us that our hearts know better, that there’s something our souls know that our minds don’t, and that is the path towards happiness and meaning. We’re told, when in doubt, to follow our intuition, for it’s God-given.

And if we do this, we’ll find ourselves, and that’s what we’ve been looking for all along.