Wild at Heart Chapter 2 / Fathers Day Series

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Chapter 2:  The Wild One Whose Image We Bear

John remembers a time in his youth when his grandfather's ranch was the training ground for his masculine journey.

On our vacation for four years in a row, we were gifted a cabin--actually a three-story 5000 sf home--to stay in for FREE.  Each year we traveled with another family since the house was so huge.  My sons loved it up there, my oldest especially.  There were mountain trails that went REALLY high up, rafting trips and inner tubing down rapids, riding on roads that were dangerous (I kept my eyes shut part of the time), jumping from rock to rock which climbing, swimming in waterfalls...things that boys love to do to test their manhood.  So I know just what the author means when he refers to his summer adventures.  Ours only lasted 10 days to two weeks each time we were there, but they were experiences that both sons (and my husband) remember fondly.

Men often do not want to be like their fathers for a variety of reasons.  I would hope that they could objectively look at them (when adults) and imitate the good parts, trying not to dwell on the bad.   From whom will they (boys/men)  derive their sense of strength?  Maybe it would be better to turn our search to the headwaters, to that mighty root from which these branches grow.  Who is this One we allegedly come from whose image every man bears?

John has a lengthy discussion here on what your image of God might be--meek and mild i.e. Jesus with little children? or wild with rage i.e. cleansing the temple of moneychangers with a whip?  

It was God who created the wilderness, the mountains, the icy raging waters of the earth as well as the flora and fauna, Mt. Everest, the mighty Amazon River, etc. It was God who also  created the  woman Eve as well as romantic places for lovers such as Hawaii, the Bahamas and Tuscany.   He has the essence of men/boys and women/girls in His being--strength and beauty as the Psalmist says:  One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard; that You, O God, are strong. ad that You, O Lord, are loving.  (Psalm 62: 11-12)

There is strength and a bit of wildness even when one is gentle.  Children see it in their "giant, booming voice" father whom they may actually be afraid of at times, but who can turn into a gentle bear when scooping them up in his arms to hug and kiss.  Men need not be afraid to show their strength nor to restrain it or rather, corral it, when needed.  Our culture sends so many mixed messages to both sexes these days.  Women aren't sure how to behave around men; men aren't sure how to behave around women.  They learn these things primarily from their own families and when their families are  broken or distorted from their original design, confusion reigns, even into adulthood.  

I am thankful that my sons have a godly man for a father,  complete with the physical strength and booming voice, but whom they know loves them (and me) with all of his heart.  He is not perfect, so I am also thankful for other men, older and not-so-older ones, who have come alongside our sons to mentor and be their friend as well.  It doesn't take a village, but it does often take more than one man to be a role model.  I welcome whom God sends into their lives to help teach and shape them into the men they were created to be.