A Young Adult Men’s Breakfast

Do you see now that fathers

who cannot love their sons

have sons who cannot love?

It was not your fault

and it was not mine. I needed

your love, but I recovered without it.

Now I no longer need anything.

From “Letter to a Dead Father” by Richard Shelton

Father-son relationships have a powerful impact on men’s lives, for good or for ill. Join with other young men in Madison for a full breakfast and exploration of the far-reaching consequences of our relationships with our less-than-perfect dads.

The pain of a broken father-son relationship is often quiet, hidden, and denied. However, pain that’s not transformed is always transmitted in one form or another, and the pain of “father wounding” often manifests itself in pernicious ways that sons don’t recognize or understand.

Led by Keith Kahle, we’ll explore the scope and manifestations of father wounding, share stories, take a look at common male responses, and consider approaches to healing and transformation. We invite you to go on this journey, and we challenge you to finish all the bacon!

Keith Kahle is a retired Orthopedic Surgeon, spiritual director, and Wisconsin representative for Illuman, a global non-profit organization committed to supporting men who are seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. He is a native of Virginia and has lived in Madison for the past 25 years. Keith has co-facilitated a local men’s group for the past 10 years and enjoys walking life’s journey alongside other men as a friend, sometimes mentor, and spiritual companion. Keith has four sons and two daughters and is currently “granddad” to six grandchildren. He and his wife, Lori, have been married for thirty years.

Keith’s interest in father wounding stems from his own experiences as a boy, as a father and as a husband. He values storytelling and draws upon the wisdom of Richard Rohr to help light the path for others who seek healing and transformation in their relationships with their dads.