Much Is At Stake

In “The Sacred Romance”, John Eldredge says this:

One of the most poisonous of all Satan’s whispers is simply, “Things will never change.” That lie kills expectation, trapping our heart forever in the present. To keep desire alive and flourishing, we must renew our vision for what lies ahead. Things will not always be like this. Jesus has promised to “make all things new.” Eye has not seen, ear has not heard all that God has in store for his lovers, which does not mean “we have no clue so don’t even try to imagine,” but rather, you cannot outdream God. Desire is kept alive by imagination, the antidote to resignation. We will need imagination, which is to say, we will need hope.

While I often disagree with John’s presuppositions, use of scripture, and foundational elements, I also find much in his books to enjoy.  What a lovely paradox!

In one of my favorites, “The Way of the Wild Heart”, John leads his male readers through a six-stage, sometimes overlapping, pilgrimage.  The journey Eldredge lays out is the masculine journey as he sees it: Boyhood to Cowboy to Warrior to Lover to King to Sage, all within a mostly typical 80-year life span.  John notes that each stage must have its allotted time for learning appropriate life lessons so that a man grows deep in his foundations; otherwise, the scarring of an underdeveloped soul might result and assert itself when strength is most required.

As is John’s typical refrain, christian men and boys need something ‘epic’ for which to fight, something beyond themselves worth giving their lives for with abandon.  No matter how differing the circumstances may be, living intentionally is key, writes John, for much is at stake.

What amazing words and thoughts…. “much is at stake”….

How true.