I hate when books I read make me think…

So I just finished “Wild at Heart” by John Eldridge.  I’ve read “Captivating” and “Journey of Desire” was the first book that really made me break down and cry for real reasons (not just getting to the sappy part in all the Christian historical novels I read).  Actually, all of John Eldridge’s books have made me cry at some point, even this one (although I wasn’t crying for myself.  They were more like empathy tears for some guys in my life.  Go figure.)

I really wanted to read “Wild at Heart” because I figured if Eldridge had done a pretty decent job capturing the essence of woman with “Captivating,” he probably would do a decent job of it with the men folk in “WaH.”  Did he?  I don’t know.  I’m not a guy.  I think he did.  It all sounded about right.  It has given me a lot to think about, though.

Since reading this book, I have felt very out of sorts.  I’m sorry if this blog seems jumbled, but I don’t know what I mean to write, only that I have a need to write something.

I think I’m frustrated.  As much as I think Eldridge is an eloquent writer and very insightful, he never seems to get around to the practical application of what he discusses.  He dredges up hurts and fears and longings and then doesn’t address them.  He raises questions but doesn’t seek to answer them, and doesn’t give me the tools to answer them myself.  I find much to critique in his books, mainly that he quotes abundantly from movies and literature and sporadically from scripture.  And yet, time and again, I read his books, because they force me to confront the hurtful things in my heart and mind that rarely surface.  Eldridge’s books are ipecac for the wounded soul.  Invariably though, I end up just getting depressed because I see and bring up the hurts, but find no hope, no silver lining in the situations that cause the emotions.

So then, I find that I must turn to my Father.  Because, as I was reminded today in “WaH,” “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.” (Ps. 62:11-12a).  He has strength enough to support me in my uncertainty and love enough to comfort me in my hurt.

“Be still silent, O my soul! submit thyself completely, trust immovably, wait patiently. Let none of thy enemies’ imaginings, consultings, flatteries, or maledictions cause thee to break the King’s peace. Be like the sheep before her shearers, and like thy Lord, conquer by the passive resistance of victorious patience: thou canst only achieve this as thou shalt be inwardly persuaded of God’s presence, and as you wait solely and alone on him.” (C.H. Spurgeon’s the Treasury of David-Psalm 62:5)