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3.20.2007

What is a man?

At the request of my man, I am reading "Wild at Heart" by John Eldridge. I'm only a few pages in and the questions, "Where are all the real men?" and "What is a real man?" are looming.

Here's something to consider:

Society at large can't make up it's mind about men. Having spent the last thirty years redefining masculinity into something more sensitive, safe, manageable and well, feminine, it now berates men for not being men. Boys will be boys, they sigh. As though if a man were to trully grow up he would forsake wilderness and wanderlust and settle down, be at home forever in Aunt Polly's parlor. "Where are all the real men?" is regular fare for talk shows and news books. "You asked them to be women" I want to say. The result is a gender confusion never experienced at such a wide level in the history of the world. How can a man know he is one when his highest aim is minding his manners?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more! I am married to one of those men who is confused about what a man is. It drives me insane! I also read this book, and so has he.
I love him, but wish those who helped raise him (society included) just left the poor guy alone.

Debby said...

I read this book awhile back and thought it was pretty good for the most part. You'll have to let us know more about what you think when you get further along or finished. I agree that society as a whole has really messed things up!

k said...

Someone recommended this book to me as well, but I confess that I have yet to read it. Probably a good idea to pick it up since I'm getting married in 5 wks. :-)

TracieClaiborne said...

I just read this book this week too! I read it in about 3 1/2 hours. I stayed up until 2:30 am last Sunday night and then finished it the next morning. My Pastor that I work for had me read it. I love it!!! I don't think it applies to my husband because he is very passionate about life and I already consider him a warrior. He goes to battle everyday for us and he is a mighty man of God. He has grown in God SO much in the past year. It amazes me.

But it's a really great book for any Christian man that seems bored with life or confused about their role in this world. It's very good reading overall. He's a great writer, don't ya think?