I’m currently hooked on a TV show from the early 2000s called Lost. I’ve only been watching this show for a short time, but I’m so intrigued by the group of plane crash survivors who get stuck on an island. I’ve watched two seasons of their adventures so far, and I’m definitely eager to find out what happens next.
As I’ve gotten more and more invested in the show, I’ve made (and remade) lists of my favorite characters. But I’ve discovered that I like very few characters on the show for one reason or another. They’re irritable, selfish, devious—or they possess some other negative trait.
But one character whom I’ve liked since Season 1 of Lost is Jack Shephard. Honestly, he’s not particularly attractive. He often looks dirty, grimy, and sweaty (which is purposeful, of course, but is still a turn-off). Still, he’s my favorite character on the show because he’s unwaveringly strong.
Few and Far Between
Hard-working, persistent, and serious, Jack is a well-liked doctor who cares about the needs of others. He’s not perfect by any means. (He definitely has a temper and an ego!) But he’s a strong leader, and he’s consistent. He sticks to his guns.
At some point during my young adult years—perhaps during college—I began to realize how many guys aren’t like Jack. I noticed that instead of showing diligence, they were lazy and lethargic. Instead of being passionate, they lacked interest in anything or anyone besides themselves. Instead of being leaders, they chose to be followers—sheep following other sheep right off a cliff.
I could try to explain why I observed so many guys in college who aren’t like Jack, but that’s another post for another time. Chalk it up to overattentive mothers, inattentive fathers, and a host of other things. But instead of focusing on the less-than-impressive guys that I’ve observed, I want to focus on the potential for strength that men have—if they’re willing to unleash it in the right ways.
Though there are very few guys like Jack in the world, I’ve met a few—guys who chose to persevere in difficult situations instead of letting challenges overcome them, guys who stuck to their convictions, guys who were willing to own up to their sins and confess them, and guys who protected the people around them.
These are just a few of the traits that I want my future husband to have.
More Than I Care to Count
Funny enough, there’s a very annoying character on Lost named Kate Austen who’s always trying to be “equal” with Jack—go on adventures like Jack, take care of people like Jack, and protect the other islanders like Jack. Instead of letting Jack be the naturally strong leader that he is, Kate always seems determined to lead right alongside him.
Kate is often an unlikeable character because she takes matters into her own hands. She acts like she doesn’t want a man to protect her or care for her. She pretends like she can do anything that a man can do. But she’s just not as strong as the men who survived the plane crash—especially not Jack. She simply refuses to embrace the fact that she’s a woman and needs Jack’s leadership.
In contrast to the scarceness of Jack-like men in the world, there’s an overabundance of Kate-like women. These women are feministic. They claim that they don’t need men. They pretend to be Miss Independence. They give men the evil eye as soon as they show a hint of chivalry.
But I’m not like Kate. I willingly admit that I want (and need) my future husband to be like Jack—but more importantly, like Jesus.
Lead Me
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. (Ephesians 5:22-24 NASB1995)
I don’t want to be the leader in my relationship with my future husband; I want him to lead. I want him to initiate family devotions and participation in ministry events. I want him to hold the door open for me and give up the last seat for me. I want him to be the strong one in our marriage because I know that I won’t be able to most of the time.
Sure, I like having a little independence and doing my own thing sometimes. But in my marriage, I realize that my future husband will be the spiritual leader. And I embrace the fact that he’ll lead me and protect me—and love me—through it all.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 