“Daddy Was a Travelin’ Man”

Helmets and harnesses strapped on, we stepped into the gondola that would take us to the higher hiking trails above Chamonix, France. It was my first time to lay eyes on Mont Blanc, and I was completely taken by the scene. To make things better, I was riding with six men I had just met the day before, yet already felt an instant kinship with. Along with us were a couple of guides who would lead us along the via ferrata (the “iron way”) above Chamonix.

Our group included men of different countries, ages, and backgrounds. At one point, one of the guides looked a bit confused as he asked in English, “How do you all know each other?”

One of the guys, Shawn Brann, grinned and said, “We all have the same Father!”

We all burst out laughing, while the guide looked sincerely puzzled, trying to reconcile the words with the scene before him. Eventually, he laughed with disbelief. I added, “Daddy was a travelin’ man!”

Again, laughter filled the gondola, but the guide still looked unsure. So Shawn offered a deeper explanation: “We’re all Christians, and we share the same Father and a love for Jesus.”

This was true.

Start of the Via Ferrata - Chamonix, France

I had come to Chamonix at Shawn’s invitation. Back in the U.S., he had been part of a men’s group, and after moving to Switzerland nine years ago, he started one there. He called the men’s weekend “Iron Days.” Each year, he gathered men from several countries for one adventure-filled weekend. The common thread was faith in Jesus Christ.

Everywhere I travel, it is easy to recognize a true Christ-follower. There’s a kindness, helpfulness, and genuine interest when you meet a stranger who shares your faith. Countless times on airplanes, I’ve struck up a conversation with someone sitting beside me, only to learn later that we shared the same faith. My friend Kermit Horn once put it well: “There is never a stranger in Jesus.”

That simple connection is what made a weekend in France with men I had never met such a joy. Conversations were natural, curiosity overflowed, and in an instant, we were ready to head off on hikes together just to know one another better.

We all had the same Father, which meant our intent, interests, and hopes were aligned. Even more, our Father loves us, wants what is best for us, forgives us, builds us up—and He is more real than the man standing next to me.

Each evening, eighteen men gathered around the table—entrepreneurs, businessmen, ministers, and tentmakers—switching between multiple languages yet all engaged in conversations marked by genuine interest in one another. It was a powerful reminder of the beauty of faith in Christ.

Christ does bring us together. There may be men with different religious leanings who focus on what divides, but when you move the ballast out of the way, Christ unites. Why? Because He is real and ever-present in the lives of those who love Him.

I’ve spent decades studying other faith systems and have never found the same unity and love that Christianity brings. Outside of Christianity, I have met many wonderful, kind people whom I deeply love—but the connection shared with those in Christ is unique and unshakable. My hope is that everyone I know will discover this truth, because Christ fits both reason and reality.

I was moved to be invited to Iron Days and grateful for the new friendships that grew over those four days. It reminded me of the importance of continuing traditions of inviting men on adventure weekends—and of the incredible friendships that can grow from them.

Thanks for the invite, Shawn.