wild at heart

My husband is quite the renissance man. He works on computers all day long as has a brain the size of Texas. He makes wine and enjoys good food and even a good opera every now and then.

But make no mistake about it. He's still a man's man. He loves to hunt. And deer season started this weekend. So when he got the call this morning that my father had gotten his deer and the property was all his; HE RAN. And when the caller ID showed he was calling me this afternoon; I knew that could only mean one thing. He "bagged" his deer. Now I know this may be disturbing to some. Isaac cried and cried (he would. He's quite the vegetarian) But God gave us dominion over all the beasts of the land and the foul in the air. And Steve never shoots animals simply for entertainment. It's all to feed our family.

I swear he came back taller. It didn't matter the size of the deer or the fact the first shot didn't kill it. He came home victorious.

It's fascinating to me how all men have this drive. They all want to dominate something. There is something deep within them. Something wild. And they are driven to find it and capture it. It looks different for every man. Some hunt and fish, some play sports, some are in a rock band, or competitive scrabble.

I didn't come up with this concept by the way. This was an idea I read in a wonderful book, "Wild At Heart" by John Eldredge. He say this in his introduction:

No, men need something else. They need a deeper understanding of why they long for adventures and battles and a Beauty-and why God made them just like that. And they need a deeper understanding of why women long to be fought for, to be swept up into adventure, and to be the Beauty. For that is how God made them as well.

So I offer this book, not as the seven steps to being a better Christian, but as a safari of the heart to recover a life of freedom, passion, and adventure. I believe it will help men get their heart back-and women as well. moreover, it will help women to understand their men and help them live the life they both want. That is my prayer for you.

It's a great book. It will give you much better understanding of men in general. I know after I read this book; I planned a surprise get away for Steve. I sent him deep sea fishing in Florida for his 30th birthday. Something he loves. And he came back a new man. More like the man God has made him to be. And I'm sure that isn't the easiest thing considering what he does for a living. It's not like he's out on a ranch somewhere roping the cattle or even doing construction work or anything like that. He's at a desk; wearing nice clothes and working hard: but not the same kind of adventure that he seeks deep within his soul. And I love this book because it is not your typical "Christian" book. It's very little about how we should act. And a lot about how it's okay to be who you are. It's less religion and more love. And it's true.

So tonight I'm enjoying watching my husband stand a little taller and walk a little prouder. Because he's a man. And he's the man I love.