Just thought I’d share the three challenges that are part of my year-long discipleship of my son, Parker. I’d love to help some other dads while I’m trying to figure out fatherhood myself! Parker and I signed a covenant and Parker committed to complete a physical challenge, intellectual challenge, and spiritual challenge. If he completes the challenges, I’ll take him on a pilgrimage at the end of the year as a celebration of his accomplishment.

For the physical challenge, we are going to train for and run a 10K together. We’re eyeing the Capitol Hill Classic next May. I think it will teach discipline and pursuing a common goal creates a unique bond.

For the intellectual challenge, I’m having Parker read a dozen books. I don’t have all of them picked out, but I’m going for a cross-section of books that have impacted my life yet are age-appropriate for him.

For the spiritual challenge, we’re reading through the New Testament together. I want to teach him spiritual disciplines so we’ll also do a forty-day Lent fast. Not sure what we’ll fast, but we’ll both give up the same thing. And I want to help him come up with a code of conduct and life goals.

Honestly, I don’t really know what I’m doing! I just figure that if we sweat together, talk together, and pray together we’ll probably grow close together! Sure, I have a plan. But I’m not sure what this will look like six weeks or six months from now. One thing is sure: I’m not going to let our culture raise my son! I’m determined to disciple him myself!