Becoming a Battle Ready FatherSample

Staying Far From the Enemy

As a father of boys, I have noticed that they respond well to metaphors, whether verbally described, visually illustrated or physically demonstrated. For all I know, these also work with girls, but that is above my pay grade. Here is one example you can use to illustrate an essential principle to your boys.

The concept: staying as far away from evil as we possibly can. The metaphor: digging our wells outside the archer's range.

If you were my son, I'd describe it like this. First, you must realize that there is a battle raging for your life. The enemy is camped a few miles away with arrows aimed your direction. His archers cannot quite reach your city limits. Your wall is sturdy and as long as you are within it you are relatively safe.

You have been assigned the task of securing water for the kingdom. You must dig a well. You have 3 choices: a) dig inside your city wall, b) dig about 100 yards outside the city, or c) dig about 2 miles from the city.

The first location is clearly best, providing the most protection so you can dig safely and quickly. The second location is acceptable as it is outside the range of enemy archers. With someone keeping watch, you can dig unimpeded. The third location however is terribly risky. If you choose it, you will need guards and even you yourself might have a shovel in one hand and a shield in the other.

The point: men are often thrilled by the prospects of adventure, risk or challenge. We may be drinking from the well in our own village, but we become bored. We wonder about the sweet taste of the water from more exotic wells. So, we venture out. However, in our endless thirst for something new, we lose sight of the city. Before we realize what's happened, we have been speared by the enemy's arrow.

This metaphor works great with topics such as dating, music, movies and friends. As our son makes choices in these areas, is he staying safely within the protection of his parents and The Lord? Or, in seeking thrills and danger, has he wandered within firing range of the enemy’s camp?