Captivating: Chapter Two
What Eve Alone Can Tell

Again, I'm finding it hard to put in words what I felt about this chapter. I guess I should just say that I have my reservations about some of what was said, but really enjoyed others. I'll start with my critique and end with my praise.

Firstly, I disagreed with the authors that God needs us. I agree that the Lord longs us to desire Him (and I'll get to that later), but the idea of the Lord being needy is a bit of a stretch. I've been more of the belief that the God can accomplish all His plans and goals with or without me. He doesn't need me, rather I need Him. And for the same reason, I've had a hard time with another key concept throughout the book that came out of the first chapter, in that woman are to play an irreplaceable role in an adventure. Perhaps in my husband's life, or my family and friends' lives, I play some sort of irreplaceable role... but am I irreplaceable to God?

This sounds a bit like I have feelings of low self-worth... however, I've always believed and I think taught as well, that God can choose to use me in a big plan in a big way. If I rely on Him, then He may use me, but if I do not follow His way or do as He desires - He can and will accomplish His goals without me. God may desire me to be the one to carry out His will, but if I don't, He will find another way. So I am a little confused about this irreplaceable role thing...

Secondly, I'm not sure what the authors are trying to say through their comments on how Eve is always depicted at rest. Does this mean that women are supposed to be passive and idle? They link this restfulness to the idea that Eve speaks something different than Adam to the world: through her beauty. I realize that beauty does carry some power with it, as the Eldridges discuss... but I find it hard to believe that it is as powerful as they would have the reader believe.

They state that beauty speaks - and it says "all is well". Really? Can't there be beauty and chaos in the same moment or at the same time? When I look at a thunder storm I find it beautiful, but it doesn't say to me that all is well. It says, watch out! here comes a storm!

And I fully agree that beauty also, invites, nourishes, comforts, inspires and is transcendant, but to me, I just still don't get what the real point or "golden nugget" is that the authors want me to pull out of this. That I should just pursue beauty (inside and out) and live a restful life and "all will be well". Maybe I missed something in this part of the chapter, but I just did not understand the real point they were trying to make.

Time for some praise. There were two great things that I gathered out of this chapter - pursuing God more fervently and that the chatter of woman is not a negative thing, but points to relationships.

I have no doubt in my mind that God wants to be sought after. He wants the desires of my heart to reflect the desire of His own. He doesn't need it to be this way, but He does want it. He is a jealous God, who wants me to be "fiercely devoted" to Him, and I long to be more devoted to Him and to pursue His desires more diligently and fervently.

I also liked the discussion of women and how women care so much about relationships. At first when I read this section on p. 27 where John Eldridge speaks of how his wife Stasi always knows who is dating who and whose feelings have been hurt, I thought - what a poor image of women. We sound like big gossips. And... many of us are. Yet, some good can come out of the fact that we share so much so openly with one another and that is, that meaningful relationships are formed between women, and between women and men.

These relationships are powerful and also empowering. I care so much about maintaining these relationships. If I cared as much about my relationship with God, I would likely be more on my way to making His desires my own. Building and growing relationships is a trait of women that is special and should be encouraged and fostered. I am so thankful for this part of my character and I pray that it will continue to be used for good.

I'm still not convinced that I love this study - but I do love what I am learning from the other women in it. I'm looking forward to hearing all the comments... and remember that I love your honesty when you post comments and will not take offense to any arguments and disagreements you may have.