WAH - More on Chapter 6

Last week we watched a portion of an old Northern Exposure episode. One of the characters (Holling) was dealing with the death of a grizzly that had nearly killed him. It was a defining moment in his life and he had tracked the bear for years. The bear died of old age and Holling’s world was shaken when this icon of his life was removed. He went into the wilderness and found that the bear was not the only challenge to be found. He summarizes by saying that all you need to do is “gird up you loins” and go after the challenge. Eldredge, the author of Wild at Heart, does a great job of identifying this characteristic love of (and even a need for) adventure and challenge in the life of men. It isn't there by accident.

God wants to sanctify and use our love of adventure. The adventures God leads us into become like constellations in our life. That is why Holling said as he buried the bear, “You were a big bear”. This is a reference to the Big Bear constellation. The creators of the episode use the song by Enya, “Paint the Sky with Stars” to reinforce that concept. The Big Bear constellation or “Big Dipper” is what we use to find the North Star. The Star we love for navigation because it doesn’t move. The adventures God brings into our life, when they rightly become a part of our lives, point to our God who doesn’t move. We look to our immutable God as we navigate in our lives.

In the Southern Hemisphere they don’t have a North Star. I’ve been fortunate enough to cross the equator a few times. The first time I crossed I remember thinking that I wasn't going to be comfortable with the stars in the sky changed. I was walking on the beach at night and there was no North Star. There was no Polaris. Nothing really looked very familiar. I was with some folks who had been there before and they said, “Look there is the Southern Cross.” There is a Cross that doesn’t stand still in the sky like Polaris but always points south. The Cross in our life has a unique role in guiding our life. Jesus said that we are to take up our cross and follow Him (Mat 10:38; Luke 14:27).

In one case, God gives us a guidance that doesn’t move or change in the heavens. In the other case, God gives us a cross that points the way to follow. When Holling said, “gird up your loins” he was using a biblical reference. I’ve selected two scriptures that use the phrase “gird up your loins” in the King James Version (KJV). The phrase means to get ready to move by belting up your robe. The following scriptures are in the English Standard Version (ESV) and I’ve bolded the portions of scripture that the KJV translates as “gird up your loins.”

Here is Jesus’ command to you as a disciple:

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Lk 12:35-36).

Here we are told to gird up the loins of our minds:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Pe 1:13-19).