If you know my husband at all, you've probably discovered that he is quite possibly the biggest
John Eldredge fan ever! No joke, I'm pretty sure he references the book
Wild at Heart at least once a month... and please keep in mind, he read the book like over
7 years ago! Don't get me wrong, I love Joshua's enthusiasm (
it's a bit comical at times) but regardless, I too think that most of what Elredge writes about is pretty spot on. Joshua's love for the "whole wild at heart" thing shouldn't come as a surprise really- it's right up his alley! His childhood years were spent immersed in being a boy scout and let's not forget to mention the fact that the two of us met at a high adventure youth camp! Joshua is all boy and all adventure!
That being said, one of the many reason I love my husband is this... he's all about raising Jude (
and Isa) to grow up and be men who know the importance of seeking the incredible story God has for them. Joshua often talks about how one day when the boys are around 12 or so, how he can't wait to take each one of them on a "coming of age" trip. As father and son they'll set out on a crazy (
nerve-racking for mama) outdoorsy sort of trip where he can just spend quality time with them and talk over the big things that life throws at them, all the while exploring in God's beautiful creation. Joshua is a father who's heart genuinely wants to teach his boys about the love of
our Father and guide them as they discover glimpses of who Jesus really is. I am so grateful to be married to a man who longs to teach our children about their true purpose of simply loving God and loving others well.
Bare with me, I have a point in sharing with you my husband's
zest for John Eldredge. You see, once a month we get these newsletters from
Ransomed Heart Ministries (
Surprise! You guessed it, headed up by John Eldredge!). Normally, if I'm honest- I don't read the letters, I just hand them off to the hubs since it's kinda "his thing". Yesterday however, I had him read it out loud to me as we were relaxing in our living room after putting Jude to bed for the night. As Joshua was reading, I found myself in awe of my Jesus once again! The truth that John shared about the humility of Jesus, captured my heart! So much so in fact, that I wanted to share with ya'll! (
Did I too just get sucked into the John Eldridge fan club?!)
Here we go, Enjoy! (
I'm starting mid-letter):
.... Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient... (Philippians 2)
"Humbled himself?"
Humility hardly begins to describe the Incarnation.
That's like saying it would be a humble thing for you to become a goldfish, to live in the bowl, in a fishy world, trying to help those other fishies become something more like Phoenixes. It boggles the mind. The eternal Son of God, "Light of light, very God of very God... one substance with the Father," spent nine months developing in Mary's uterus. Jesus passed through her birth canal. He had to learn to walk. The Word of God had to learn to talk. He who calls the stars by name had to learn the names of everything, just as you did. "This is a cup. Can you say cup? Cuuup." For ages upon ages, his generous hand fed every creature on earth; now it is he that has to be fed, spoon fed, drooling most of it down his chin like any other toddler. The Son of God doesn't even know how to tie his shoes. Someone had to teach him how to tie those sandals John the Baptist said none of us were worthy to untie. "The rabbit goes around the tree and down through the hole... like that. Now you try it." Picture seven year old Jesus in the shop out back, learning form Joseph how to use a hammer and saw. He who hung galaxies in such perfect poise, like a hundred billion mobiles, has to be shown how to nail two boards together.
I take my shoes off. The humility of this is beyond words.
Remember- Jesus wasn't faking it when he took on his humanity. Think of the implications. He who never tires, never slumbers accepted the need for sleep. Every night. How deep was the exhaustion that kept him dozing right through the gale, waves crashing over the boat? Jesus ate, every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner; he needed to. He had to trim his toenails. He who clothes the lilies of the field with greater glory than Solomon's splendor had to do his laundry, squatting riverside, rinsing the dust from his worn garments like any other peasant.
What about the humility of simply getting from here to there by means of
walking?
We read that Jesus "left Judea and went back once more to Galilee" and don't pause to wonder--- how far was that? More than
one hundred and twenty miles. A four to five day journey on foot, pushing sunup to sundown. When was the last time you walked four days straight? We pass right over phrases like, "Jesus went up to Jerusalem" as though it happened quick as we read it, like he ran across the street for a quart of milk. Bethany to Cana is roughly seventy miles; back down to Jerusalem is another forty-five plus. Jesus is making these trips all the time. He who once rode "on the wings of the wind" is now getting around only as fast as his two sore feet will carry him. Hours and hours, for days and months upon end, just... walking.
God--who is in all places at all times--has to get from one place to another like a guy who can't even come up with bus fare. The beauty of this is enough to make me weep.
The more we discover Jesus for who he really is--freed from the religious veils, all the goofy images--the more we
will fall in love with him! And the more we will experience him for ourselves, which is the best hope of all...... by John Eldridge
Good stuff, right?!?! Thought provoking. Just wanted to share! (o;
