I was recommended this book by a friend and it has proven to be one of the most important books I have ever read. Wild at Heart’s subtitle is “Discovering the secret of a man’s soul” and that has been the journey that I have taken whilst reading this book.
The authors aim is to aid men to remove their false self and find their true self. The book starts at looking at a man’s heart. By looking at what truly motivates men and boys the author identifies three main drives
1. A battle to fight
2. An adventure to live
3. A beauty to rescue
Eldredge looks at the wild person we are to emulate, Jesus and draws many examples of Jesus ‘wild’ side out. Jesus didn’t tip toe around issues, he rebuked his friends, broke the rules and taboo’s of his society. This is the man we are to emulate.
Possibly the most challenging part of the book is the discussion about ‘The Wound’. All men have been wounded typically by their father and this makes them think that they are not man enough. Often the wound leads to a false self being made to cover our issues and problems. This can take many forms from Mr Achiever, Mr brash, Mr Crass all sorts of poseurs and liars. This wound needs to be identified, looked at and healed. This of course is the role of Jesus in our lives only he can heal our hearts. In fact he has already done it by giving us new hearts.
Many men today have not been initiated into manhood. This has left us as man / boys for ever adolescent’s not quite men not quite boys, confused, weakened and unsure. We need to be initiated into manhood by God. As part of this process we need to seek out the name Father has for us. As we look through the bible Father and Jesus gave names to people that changed their lies, the trickster Jacob becomes Israel, Simon becomes Peter, Saul becomes Paul and Cephas becomes Barnabas. We need to have the name Father called us at our conception in his mind, not the one our parents have given us.
He then looks at the battle to fight; we live as Christians in a war zone. We are in a battle whether we want to be or not. We can choose not to fight but that is the way of spiritual death and self defeat. Man was made for battle we enjoy it, we look forward to it. Most boys will pick up any object and turn it into a gun / sword / missile. We are born to fight. We are called to fight the powers of darkness and to take the light into the dark. What a noble task we have ahead of us. We are the Knights of the Round Table, the magnificent seven or the Fellowship of the Ring. He looks at the issues such as the traitor within, the enemy and the strategies we need to take.
The adventure we are to live is all about living with Jesus, following him and doing what he is calling you to do. It’s a rollercoaster, but rollercoaster’s are fun, yes there are the down times but there are also plenty of ups. Seek out what he wants you to do leave the hows and whys to Him just say “Ok I’m in” and do.
The chapter of a beauty to rescue is amazing it’s about giving your strength to the beauty not getting your strength from the beauty. It is a real eye opener. Also we are not to become her strength or try to meet the needs she has which are Fathers to fill.
I am working through many of the things this book has unleashed upon me. It is going to take some time for me to work through them. But work through them I will.
I recommend this book to any man out there. It will help you become the man Father called you to be. Also for any married women out their buy this book for your man, and read it yourself. It will help you understand him and if he reads it may turn him into the man you have always dreamed of and hoped for.
BUY THIS BOOK
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