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The Father Wound | Otto Kelly | TEDxCarsonCity


you know this is something that’s real

you know this is something that’s real passionate to me I am the executive

passionate to me I am the executive

passionate to me I am the executive director of crisis pregnancy center and

director of crisis pregnancy center and

director of crisis pregnancy center and they’re not calling you know I see young

they’re not calling you know I see young

they’re not calling you know I see young ladies and young men coming through our

ladies and young men coming through our

ladies and young men coming through our doors with a lack of fathering and when

doors with a lack of fathering and when

doors with a lack of fathering and when we see that lack of fathering when they

we see that lack of fathering when they

we see that lack of fathering when they witness a strong male figure something

witness a strong male figure something

witness a strong male figure something in them two takes place something

in them two takes place something

in them two takes place something positive takes place within them and

positive takes place within them and

positive takes place within them and what’s interesting about that is that

what’s interesting about that is that

what’s interesting about that is that they begin to see themselves in a

they begin to see themselves in a

they begin to see themselves in a positive light please understand this

positive light please understand this

positive light please understand this that every single social ill that we’re

that every single social ill that we’re

that every single social ill that we’re dealing with is directly or indirectly

dealing with is directly or indirectly

dealing with is directly or indirectly related to fatherlessness do you realize

related to fatherlessness do you realize

related to fatherlessness do you realize that close to 81 percent of teen

that close to 81 percent of teen

that close to 81 percent of teen pregnancies come from fatherless homes

pregnancies come from fatherless homes

pregnancies come from fatherless homes I’m talking 80 percent of all of our

I’m talking 80 percent of all of our

I’m talking 80 percent of all of our kids that are on the street right now

kids that are on the street right now

kids that are on the street right now homeless fatherless homes we’re talking

homeless fatherless homes we’re talking

homeless fatherless homes we’re talking seventy-one percent of the male

seventy-one percent of the male

seventy-one percent of the male population in the penal system right now

population in the penal system right now

population in the penal system right now fatherless homes now these are just a

fatherless homes now these are just a

fatherless homes now these are just a few of the documented stats I mean the

few of the documented stats I mean the

few of the documented stats I mean the economic impact cannot even be

economic impact cannot even be

economic impact cannot even be calculated because it’s estimated that’s

calculated because it’s estimated that’s

calculated because it’s estimated that’s forty one percent of the kids that are

forty one percent of the kids that are

forty one percent of the kids that are in fatherless homes will be poorer than

in fatherless homes will be poorer than

in fatherless homes will be poorer than their biological dad it is just

their biological dad it is just

their biological dad it is just absolutely astonishing

absolutely astonishing

absolutely astonishing now again I’m the executive director of

now again I’m the executive director of

now again I’m the executive director of crisis pregnancy center here in Reno and

crisis pregnancy center here in Reno and

crisis pregnancy center here in Reno and I’ve developed a program called Daddy

I’ve developed a program called Daddy

I’ve developed a program called Daddy Academy now the probability of these

Academy now the probability of these

Academy now the probability of these young men coming through our doors

young men coming through our doors

young men coming through our doors understanding what it is to be a father

understanding what it is to be a father

understanding what it is to be a father it’s pretty dim pretty pretty dim

it’s pretty dim pretty pretty dim

it’s pretty dim pretty pretty dim especially in light of the facts that I

especially in light of the facts that I

especially in light of the facts that I just mentioned and so we what we’ve done

just mentioned and so we what we’ve done

just mentioned and so we what we’ve done is we we develop programs and we don’t

is we we develop programs and we don’t

is we we develop programs and we don’t develop workshops that’s specifically

develop workshops that’s specifically

develop workshops that’s specifically designated to help them see the

designated to help them see the

designated to help them see the importance of fathers fathering and

importance of fathers fathering and

importance of fathers fathering and we’ve expanded this not only to our

community outreach and not only in our

community outreach and not only in our areas of our of our teens but we also

areas of our of our teens but we also

areas of our of our teens but we also spread it out in the community we’ve got

spread it out in the community we’ve got

spread it out in the community we’ve got local local judges that have

local local judges that have

local local judges that have grabbed ahold of our programs we have

grabbed ahold of our programs we have

grabbed ahold of our programs we have local people that are seriously involved

local people that are seriously involved

local people that are seriously involved in what we’re trying to do now the

in what we’re trying to do now the

in what we’re trying to do now the interesting thing about this we’ve seen

interesting thing about this we’ve seen

interesting thing about this we’ve seen a dramatic change as a direct result of

a dramatic change as a direct result of

a dramatic change as a direct result of this program you know I was talking to

this program you know I was talking to

this program you know I was talking to some of our young ladies and it was for

some of our young ladies and it was for

some of our young ladies and it was for things that they said that they wish

things that they said that they wish

things that they said that they wish they had those four things when they

they had those four things when they

they had those four things when they grew up without a dad was this they said

grew up without a dad was this they said

grew up without a dad was this they said they wish they had protection they said

they wish they had protection they said

they wish they had protection they said they wish they had provision they said

they wish they had provision they said

they wish they had provision they said they wish they had presence and they

they wish they had presence and they

they wish they had presence and they wish they had praise now I want you to

wish they had praise now I want you to

wish they had praise now I want you to hear what’s happening because I’ve

hear what’s happening because I’ve

hear what’s happening because I’ve talked also to some of the guys out

talked also to some of the guys out

talked also to some of the guys out there some of the pimps out there they

there some of the pimps out there they

there some of the pimps out there they said not every young lady is pimple but

said not every young lady is pimple but

said not every young lady is pimple but when she lacks those very things when

when she lacks those very things when

when she lacks those very things when she lacks those things that would cause

she lacks those things that would cause

she lacks those things that would cause her to feel better about herself she’s

her to feel better about herself she’s

her to feel better about herself she’s more willing to do things that goes

more willing to do things that goes

more willing to do things that goes against her morals it’s unbelievably

against her morals it’s unbelievably

against her morals it’s unbelievably uncaring their father riff and the

uncaring their father riff and the

uncaring their father riff and the father wound that is so prevalent we’re

father wound that is so prevalent we’re

father wound that is so prevalent we’re talking 24 million children right now

talking 24 million children right now

talking 24 million children right now globally and fatherless homes so I’m

globally and fatherless homes so I’m

globally and fatherless homes so I’m asking this this afternoon free to

asking this this afternoon free to

asking this this afternoon free to listen to what I have to say because

listen to what I have to say because

listen to what I have to say because this wound is deep it’s extremely deep

this wound is deep it’s extremely deep

this wound is deep it’s extremely deep and it affects our whole culture now

and it affects our whole culture now

and it affects our whole culture now hear my heart when I say this mothers

hear my heart when I say this mothers

hear my heart when I say this mothers I’m not saying that you’re not doing a

I’m not saying that you’re not doing a

I’m not saying that you’re not doing a great job because you are but there’s

great job because you are but there’s

great job because you are but there’s certain things that only a father can

certain things that only a father can

certain things that only a father can feel there’s only certain things that a

feel there’s only certain things that a

feel there’s only certain things that a dad can bring to bear now I’ll be I’ll

dad can bring to bear now I’ll be I’ll

dad can bring to bear now I’ll be I’ll be perfectly frank with you I didn’t

be perfectly frank with you I didn’t

be perfectly frank with you I didn’t have didn’t have a father growing up my

have didn’t have a father growing up my

have didn’t have a father growing up my dad died when I was in middle school and

dad died when I was in middle school and

dad died when I was in middle school and when he died when I was in middle school

when he died when I was in middle school

when he died when I was in middle school it it caused me to grope for a father

it it caused me to grope for a father

it it caused me to grope for a father figure and because I groped for a father

figure and because I groped for a father

figure and because I groped for a father figure I looked for it everywhere so

figure I looked for it everywhere so

figure I looked for it everywhere so there’s a deep desire in all of us for

there’s a deep desire in all of us for

there’s a deep desire in all of us for to have significance there’s a deep

to have significance there’s a deep

to have significance there’s a deep desire for all of us to have a

desire for all of us to have a

desire for all of us to have a confirmation now see I I would be remiss

confirmation now see I I would be remiss

confirmation now see I I would be remiss not to say this being a pastor but Jesus

not to say this being a pastor but Jesus

not to say this being a pastor but Jesus needed affirmation but when he came up

needed affirmation but when he came up

needed affirmation but when he came up out of the water

out of the water

out of the water after being baptized it said that he

after being baptized it said that he

after being baptized it said that he heard three things

heard three things

heard three things from heaven here does father say this

from heaven here does father say this

from heaven here does father say this you’re my son

you’re my son

you’re my son I love you and I’m pleased with you

I love you and I’m pleased with you

I love you and I’m pleased with you now if the Son of God needed affirmation

now if the Son of God needed affirmation

now if the Son of God needed affirmation from a father figure you and I need

from a father figure you and I need

from a father figure you and I need that’s very same thing my heart this

that’s very same thing my heart this

that’s very same thing my heart this afternoon is to talk to you and to

afternoon is to talk to you and to

afternoon is to talk to you and to convey to you the importance of father

convey to you the importance of father

convey to you the importance of father me again

me again

me again growing up without a father there was

growing up without a father there was

growing up without a father there was things that I groped for but I learned

things that I groped for but I learned

things that I groped for but I learned something I learned that me fathering

something I learned that me fathering

something I learned that me fathering others I can vicariously father myself I

others I can vicariously father myself I

others I can vicariously father myself I can heal the father wound in me by

can heal the father wound in me by

can heal the father wound in me by fathering others

fathering others

fathering others now fathering I have I have I guess you

now fathering I have I have I guess you

now fathering I have I have I guess you call them children or kids men that are

call them children or kids men that are

call them children or kids men that are old enough to be my dad that I fathered

old enough to be my dad that I fathered

old enough to be my dad that I fathered daughters that are old enough to be my

daughters that are old enough to be my

daughters that are old enough to be my mother so aids of no significance it’s

mother so aids of no significance it’s

mother so aids of no significance it’s something that is deeply rooted within

something that is deeply rooted within

something that is deeply rooted within us that affirmation that we must have

us that affirmation that we must have

us that affirmation that we must have you know I will share something

you know I will share something

you know I will share something extremely personal earlier this year my

extremely personal earlier this year my

extremely personal earlier this year my sister died and this is the a long line

sister died and this is the a long line

sister died and this is the a long line of unfortunate siblings that have died

of unfortunate siblings that have died

of unfortunate siblings that have died in the last 10 years and this was really

in the last 10 years and this was really

in the last 10 years and this was really personal this one really hurt because my

personal this one really hurt because my

personal this one really hurt because my sister was more or less a she was like a

sister was more or less a she was like a

sister was more or less a she was like a twin a year older than me but she was a

twin a year older than me but she was a

twin a year older than me but she was a twin and I was broken really broken and

twin and I was broken really broken and

twin and I was broken really broken and I was just hurting and of course my

I was just hurting and of course my

I was just hurting and of course my family my other family members called

family my other family members called

family my other family members called and said we need you here and so my wife

and said we need you here and so my wife

and said we need you here and so my wife and I we made arrangements to make that

and I we made arrangements to make that

and I we made arrangements to make that six seven hour drive from Reno to

six seven hour drive from Reno to

six seven hour drive from Reno to Henderson my son comes to me and he says

Henderson my son comes to me and he says

Henderson my son comes to me and he says dad I’m gonna go with you I mean I want

dad I’m gonna go with you I mean I want

dad I’m gonna go with you I mean I want to pay respects to my aunt but I’m

to pay respects to my aunt but I’m

to pay respects to my aunt but I’m really I want to be there for you I said

really I want to be there for you I said

really I want to be there for you I said okay so I know that I needed and so we

okay so I know that I needed and so we

okay so I know that I needed and so we make our trek there and we get there and

make our trek there and we get there and

make our trek there and we get there and about

about

about the day after we go to the funeral home

the day after we go to the funeral home

the day after we go to the funeral home and we begin to make the arrangements

and we begin to make the arrangements

and we begin to make the arrangements and unfortunately some of the things

and unfortunately some of the things

and unfortunately some of the things that my sister wanted the funeral people

that my sister wanted the funeral people

that my sister wanted the funeral people didn’t have prepared and I began to get

didn’t have prepared and I began to get

didn’t have prepared and I began to get frustrated now already mama my heart is

frustrated now already mama my heart is

frustrated now already mama my heart is already broken and I’m wounded and my

already broken and I’m wounded and my

already broken and I’m wounded and my emotions afraid but it was interesting

emotions afraid but it was interesting

emotions afraid but it was interesting to me that my son Dominic he says dad no

to me that my son Dominic he says dad no

to me that my son Dominic he says dad no I’ll take care of it not really I’ll

I’ll take care of it not really I’ll

I’ll take care of it not really I’ll take care of it pause and he began to

take care of it pause and he began to

take care of it pause and he began to intervene on my behalf he began to do

intervene on my behalf he began to do

intervene on my behalf he began to do some things and say some things that I

some things and say some things that I

some things and say some things that I recognized at that moment that he was my

recognized at that moment that he was my

recognized at that moment that he was my father I recognized the very things that

father I recognized the very things that

father I recognized the very things that were looking for the the provision the

were looking for the the provision the

were looking for the the provision the protection the praise all those things

protection the praise all those things

protection the praise all those things were coming out and the very one that I

were coming out and the very one that I

were coming out and the very one that I was supposed to be fathering he began to

was supposed to be fathering he began to

was supposed to be fathering he began to father me my point in this whole

father me my point in this whole

father me my point in this whole circumstance is that all of us have that

circumstance is that all of us have that

circumstance is that all of us have that desperate need all of us have that

desperate need all of us have that

desperate need all of us have that desire to recognize that we’re of worth

desire to recognize that we’re of worth

desire to recognize that we’re of worth now when that happened to me

now when that happened to me

now when that happened to me it caused a healing in my heart because

it caused a healing in my heart because

it caused a healing in my heart because see there’s a father wound in nationally

see there’s a father wound in nationally

see there’s a father wound in nationally and internationally father wound that

and internationally father wound that

and internationally father wound that only father’s can feel I’m gonna ask

only father’s can feel I’m gonna ask

only father’s can feel I’m gonna ask something ask something great of you

something ask something great of you

something ask something great of you your father’s your dads that are out

your father’s your dads that are out

your father’s your dads that are out there I want you to stand up now whether

there I want you to stand up now whether

there I want you to stand up now whether you had a father or not stand up now I

you had a father or not stand up now I

you had a father or not stand up now I want you to do me a favor

want you to do me a favor

want you to do me a favor man I see this is a global issue the

man I see this is a global issue the

man I see this is a global issue the global problem a global issue a global

global problem a global issue a global

global problem a global issue a global thing in which only men are the answer

thing in which only men are the answer

thing in which only men are the answer like I said before our our daughters

like I said before our our daughters

like I said before our our daughters they need us our families they need us

they need us our families they need us

they need us our families they need us they need us and so I’m going to ask

they need us and so I’m going to ask

they need us and so I’m going to ask something great of you men now I want

something great of you men now I want

something great of you men now I want you each to close your eyes and I want

you each to close your eyes and I want

you each to close your eyes and I want you to do this I want you to picture the

you to do this I want you to picture the

you to do this I want you to picture the best father only to picture the

best father only to picture the

best father only to picture the best dad only to picture him encouraging

best dad only to picture him encouraging

best dad only to picture him encouraging you telling you he’s proud of you

you telling you he’s proud of you

you telling you he’s proud of you telling you that you’re the best now I

telling you that you’re the best now I

telling you that you’re the best now I want you to think on that and I want you

want you to think on that and I want you

want you to think on that and I want you to meditate on that because see it’s a

to meditate on that because see it’s a

to meditate on that because see it’s a global min problem and it’s where the

global min problem and it’s where the

global min problem and it’s where the answer to that global issue now keep

answer to that global issue now keep

answer to that global issue now keep them stay focused man now this is what I

them stay focused man now this is what I

them stay focused man now this is what I challenge you and I need for you to do

challenge you and I need for you to do

challenge you and I need for you to do go and be that very thing that you’ve

go and be that very thing that you’ve

go and be that very thing that you’ve just envisioned to those around you

just envisioned to those around you

just envisioned to those around you because it will change the trajectory of

because it will change the trajectory of

because it will change the trajectory of their lives all you need to do it is be

their lives all you need to do it is be

their lives all you need to do it is be compassionate all you need to do is be

compassionate all you need to do is be

compassionate all you need to do is be willing to step outside of your comfort

willing to step outside of your comfort

willing to step outside of your comfort zone and you can change the lives of

zone and you can change the lives of

zone and you can change the lives of many to this very day I have young men

many to this very day I have young men

many to this very day I have young men and older men calling me saying thank

and older men calling me saying thank

and older men calling me saying thank you very much for intervening in my life

you very much for intervening in my life

you very much for intervening in my life when I needed to hear some positive

when I needed to hear some positive

when I needed to hear some positive enforcement some positive confirmation

enforcement some positive confirmation

enforcement some positive confirmation may be seated in the mid 90s

may be seated in the mid 90s

may be seated in the mid 90s there was a movie that came out that I

there was a movie that came out that I

there was a movie that came out that I really enjoyed just called boys in the

really enjoyed just called boys in the

really enjoyed just called boys in the hood and I really liked the movie I

hood and I really liked the movie I

hood and I really liked the movie I really did it was about a young man

really did it was about a young man

really did it was about a young man coming to age and his mother was kind he

coming to age and his mother was kind he

coming to age and his mother was kind he was getting kind of unruly with his mom

was getting kind of unruly with his mom

was getting kind of unruly with his mom and the mother said you need to go live

and the mother said you need to go live

and the mother said you need to go live with your dad so of course she calls the

with your dad so of course she calls the

with your dad so of course she calls the Pops and he says yes listen listen I

Pops and he says yes listen listen I

Pops and he says yes listen listen I need to talk with him and it was funny

need to talk with him and it was funny

need to talk with him and it was funny because he one day in the scene he grabs

because he one day in the scene he grabs

because he one day in the scene he grabs his son and he takes him outside and

his son and he takes him outside and

his son and he takes him outside and says I want you to rake these leaves and

says I want you to rake these leaves and

says I want you to rake these leaves and he sees his friends his his buddies and

he sees his friends his his buddies and

he sees his friends his his buddies and sons buddies across the way and he says

sons buddies across the way and he says

sons buddies across the way and he says he calls him over and says hey we need

he calls him over and says hey we need

he calls him over and says hey we need to me a favor one yeah when you guys

to me a favor one yeah when you guys

to me a favor one yeah when you guys rake these leaves I’ll give you five

rake these leaves I’ll give you five

rake these leaves I’ll give you five bucks for it says guy says the kids say

bucks for it says guy says the kids say

bucks for it says guy says the kids say and five bucks ain’t and I’ll let you

and five bucks ain’t and I’ll let you

and five bucks ain’t and I’ll let you fill in the blanks

and he said they leave and he looks at

and he said they leave and he looks at his son he’s his son I know that you

his son he’s his son I know that you

his son he’s his son I know that you think I’m being hard on you but I’m

think I’m being hard on you but I’m

think I’m being hard on you but I’m trying to teach you responsibility you

trying to teach you responsibility you

trying to teach you responsibility you see those guys over there they don’t

see those guys over there they don’t

see those guys over there they don’t have a father and you’re gonna see how

have a father and you’re gonna see how

have a father and you’re gonna see how they end up now the movie was great and

they end up now the movie was great and

they end up now the movie was great and this character played a great role but

this character played a great role but

this character played a great role but the frustrating thing I had about that

the frustrating thing I had about that

the frustrating thing I had about that is is that he pronounced the prophesy

is is that he pronounced the prophesy

is is that he pronounced the prophesy over their lives

over their lives

over their lives he declared something over them they

he declared something over them they

he declared something over them they said you’re gonna see how they end up

said you’re gonna see how they end up

said you’re gonna see how they end up and unfortunately they ended up the very

and unfortunately they ended up the very

and unfortunately they ended up the very way he thought they would question is

way he thought they would question is

way he thought they would question is this how much more finances would have

this how much more finances would have

this how much more finances would have been taken him to simply take them with

been taken him to simply take them with

been taken him to simply take them with his son fishing to take them with with

his son fishing to take them with with

his son fishing to take them with with with his son as he takes them bowling or

with his son as he takes them bowling or

with his son as he takes them bowling or takes him to their job his job

takes him to their job his job

takes him to their job his job how much more finances would have would

how much more finances would have would

how much more finances would have would have taken the eternal difference that

have taken the eternal difference that

have taken the eternal difference that could have taken place as a result of

could have taken place as a result of

could have taken place as a result of him going outside of his comfort zone

him going outside of his comfort zone

him going outside of his comfort zone and beginning to invite those young men

and beginning to invite those young men

and beginning to invite those young men would have changed their lives again I

would have changed their lives again I

would have changed their lives again I am the executive director of crisis

am the executive director of crisis

am the executive director of crisis pregnancy center and again on a daily

pregnancy center and again on a daily

pregnancy center and again on a daily basis I see the negative impact of

basis I see the negative impact of

basis I see the negative impact of fatherlessness and these young ladies

fatherlessness and these young ladies

fatherlessness and these young ladies are desperately looking for someone now

are desperately looking for someone now

are desperately looking for someone now it’s amazing to me I talked to some of

it’s amazing to me I talked to some of

it’s amazing to me I talked to some of the the caseworkers of some of the

the the caseworkers of some of the

the the caseworkers of some of the former ladies who are in prostitution

former ladies who are in prostitution

former ladies who are in prostitution and they say this they said you know

and they say this they said you know

and they say this they said you know what they’re healing exponentially

what they’re healing exponentially

what they’re healing exponentially increases when a strong father figure is

increases when a strong father figure is

increases when a strong father figure is in their lives not looking at them with

in their lives not looking at them with

in their lives not looking at them with wanting eyes but encouraging them and

wanting eyes but encouraging them and

wanting eyes but encouraging them and letting them know how valuable they

letting them know how valuable they

letting them know how valuable they really are all of us desire to hear that

really are all of us desire to hear that

really are all of us desire to hear that especially our daughters again I say

especially our daughters again I say

especially our daughters again I say that I’m not taking anything from our

that I’m not taking anything from our

that I’m not taking anything from our moms but the issues that we’re facing on

moms but the issues that we’re facing on

moms but the issues that we’re facing on a global perspective has everything to

a global perspective has everything to

a global perspective has everything to do with father listen if you’ve heard

do with father listen if you’ve heard

do with father listen if you’ve heard the numbers then there was just a few of

the numbers then there was just a few of

the numbers then there was just a few of the stats I say this in closing and I

the stats I say this in closing and I

the stats I say this in closing and I ask you this

ask you this

ask you this in closing be the far

in closing be the far

in closing be the far that you’ve always wanted be the dad

that you’ve always wanted be the dad

that you’ve always wanted be the dad that you’ve just envisioned to others

that you’ve just envisioned to others

that you’ve just envisioned to others and not only will you heal them you will

and not only will you heal them you will

and not only will you heal them you will by curiously father yourself through

by curiously father yourself through

by curiously father yourself through fathering others it is a win-win

fathering others it is a win-win

fathering others it is a win-win situation so I asked asked you men take

situation so I asked asked you men take

situation so I asked asked you men take it up and stand because in you things

it up and stand because in you things

it up and stand because in you things can change in you a life that is going

can change in you a life that is going

can change in you a life that is going one direction can be changed by some

one direction can be changed by some

one direction can be changed by some positive affirmation from a father I am

positive affirmation from a father I am

positive affirmation from a father I am passionate about this I am unbelievably

passionate about this I am unbelievably

passionate about this I am unbelievably focused on this because I seek daily the

focused on this because I seek daily the

focused on this because I seek daily the desperate need for fathers to step up

desperate need for fathers to step up

desperate need for fathers to step up and live in the lives of those who

and live in the lives of those who

and live in the lives of those who desperately need affirmation and

desperately need affirmation and

desperately need affirmation and encouragement thank you very much

encouragement thank you very much

encouragement thank you very much [Applause]

”

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