Pinocchio wants to be a real boy.

But how?

Pinocchio’s journey of self-discovery through exploration, temptation, and danger ultimately ends him in a place of selflessness and new life. And there is likely a lot we can learn from his tale. But his literary existence hasn’t seemed to help us much.

Like Pinocchio, we have a similar question. I just got back from a men’s breakfast at my church. This morning we started to consider the question of what it means to be a real man–and, by extension, a real woman. The speaker mentioned that as a church we struggle to answer this question.

But I think our entire society is saying the same thing: “I want to be a real boy man/woman!”

My sister-in-law is currently working on a collaborative art piece that asks the question: What does it mean to be a woman? And I can think of many films that ask the same question for men; Fight Club is the epitome of such films. It’s not just the church that’s looking for an answer, it’s our entire culture. And, for whatever reason, I’m feeling the weight of that question these days.

And that’s why I like bloggers so much more than speakers. The guy today kept saying, “Men in America need _____.” Over and over again. I felt like I was listening to a guy read from a “Men Need” Google Meme. While I could relate to some of what he was saying, it wasn’t personal. But out here on the blogosphere we talk personally: I need. I think. I’m dealing with.

And I like that.

Pinocchio really only gets into trouble when he sets off on his own–or with people who don’t care about him. And Fight Club demonstrates, in a rather twisted way, our immense need to belong to a community that encourages forward motion. And, really, the Bible says the same thing in Hebrews 24-25:

…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

All that to say: I am glad for the communities and people God has put in my life here on blogosphere, at work, and at church. And I look forward to the day when I too will become a “real boy” with the help of my friends and family.

May you draw closer to the people who love you and can encourage you in your journey toward being the woman (or man) you are supposed to be.

Luke Holzmann is the son of John and Sarita Holzmann, founders of Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd., in Littleton, CO, where he is the Media Relations Specialist. He attended Biola University, in La Mirada, CA, and earned the BA in Motion Picture Production. You can find his work at http://www.sonlightblog.com/, production-now.com, and lukeholzmann.blogspot.com.