Many benefit from Men's Breakfast

"Men need to be around men. They tend to get isolated in their work, and they all tend to struggle with the same things."

About 250 local men got together recently for the third annual Men's Prayer Breakfast to spend some time with each other and listen to former Major League Baseball player Andy Benes' speech.

Benes spoke briefly about what he thinks are the pitfalls of success, calling himself "selfish" with "addictive behaviors": "Outside my house, I looked good. Inside my house, I was a sorry state," Benes said.

But, more importantly, he focused on how he turned his life around through prayer.

"I am now a champion for Jesus," Benes said. "They're not going to trade me or release me."

Everyone can benefit from Benes' message. While it's true that outward signs may show a person is content and has his or her priorities in order, inward reflection may reveal that is not the case.

And when a person gains that perspective, it carries over into his or her relationships, be they professional or personal.

The Men's Breakfast is a great opportunity for men to take a step back and get that perspective. By talking to each other and to local pastors of many faiths, praying and even by removing themselves for a moment from the daily grind, they may benefit by seeing situations in their life in a new light.