I love you daddy

How could one be a child and a 'Man' at the same time? This question has haunted me and perplexed me for weeks.They seem mutually exclusive.

In my limited view, to be Man is to be strong, perseverance, independent, be bold as a lion, unwavering despite pressure, a wrestler, an over comer, consider great & weighty matters, withstand great pain, a defender, goal oriented- not passive, etc...

In my limited view, to be a child is to be weak, dependant, quiet, not ambitious, vulnerable, able to be hurt, defenseless, trusting, simple in their view of the world, needy and basically the exact opposite of masculinity.

In some places scripture teaches to 'be a man', 'put away childish things', '& ' to be bold and be strong' with a 'face like flint'. Then in other places 'unless you change and become like a child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven', or 'my soul is like a weaned child, my soul is like a child within me'.

Which one is it? How are we to be as adult men or little son's?

One day while pondering these things I was listening to Jason Upton's album remember. It starts off with a cut where during the song he rebukes a tornado with reports from that concert where a actual physical tornado denigrates at God's rebuke through Jason. Read more about that event here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VILPyGtzNv4
That is power. Jesus rebuking the sea telling the disciplines to stop being afraid. One of his followers rebuking a tornado at God's command and God's power being displayed. That is masculine.
Then later in the CD he is babbling like a little baby in the song lullaby 'dada, adad, dada' with many men in the audience crying out 'I love you daddy!, I love you daddy!'. Then the CD ends with Jason acting like a child 'Daddy, come get me. I want you to play with me again. I tag you, your it' on a song called fly where angels come and join in the song. You can here about that here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo6Nu5W256M
What a great object lesson on this tension being a 'MIGHTY man of God' yet being an embarrassing child before our Daddy. With David's heart 'I will be humiliated in my own eyes' as I please God with my childlike nature and worship of and love for Daddy.

Yet I still looked...Jesus show me, Jesus teach me.

Then I read in a commentary on being child-like the following
"Was Jesus like a child? In every way, Yes though he was also the perfect example of a mature man. He knew all about sin, yet he never sinned. He knew every emotion, yet he never gave into lust, temper, envy, hate and so on. He had all wisdom available to him, yet he spoke with simple words & told small colorful stories. He drew people to himself b/c he was gentle & kind. This vast power was used not in violent acts but in healing and restoring.
Jesus was the supreme child"

The answer to the riddle, the tension is Jesus himself. 100% man, 100% child. The tension held in perfect balance. Matthew 11 is a great example of both natures- declaring bold judgement on arrogance, yet offering help to the burdened saying of himself 'I am gentle & humble in heart'.

Childlike- I only do what Daddy is doing, say what Daddy is saying, giving deference to his father, gentle, humble
Yet Masculine- intellectually spars with the best & brightest, Brave-not my will yours be done, strong & calm in the midst of his false accusers, rejection by those closest to him yet unwavering in continuing to what was right, zealous for his Father's house, cause and heart.

I could write so much more.

May the men who read recover the child likeness our Father would love to restore in us- Ps. 131.
As a wiser, dear brother shared with me. Being a husband starts as a son. Being a father starts as a son. Being a man of God starts first as being a beloved son in their Daddy's arms.

As you let go of your grasp of what being a man is. Hold on to being childlike with your father you will begin to find the child like trust of Jesus as well as the masculine divine courage of Jesus.
In essence you'll be becoming more like Jesus the perfect Son, Father, Husband and Man.

Ed Cole had it right all along "Real manhood and Christlikeness are synonymous.”

i love you daddy

2 comments:

Neil said...

Troy, This is great! a good reminder to take on the Holy attributes of the Kingdom.

Paul said...

This is awesome, thanks Troy