Masculinity & Femininity | Where They Overlap

I read Mirriam's response, and then the original Open Letter to Rey.  Out of order, but that's how this topic flashed across my dash.  Odd thing was, I'd already been meaning to tackle this topic in some manner.  I guess now is as good a time as any.  And I'll tell you what, at first I had NO IDEA how to handle this subject.  It's a massive topic split in two ways with lots of cracks that formed from the split.  But as I was making and uploading my post image, it came to me.

the problem is the split

There is a huge-big kick-up about how men and women ought to behave.  The author of the Open Letter to Rey was one-part despairing because Hollywood/hardcore feminism makes women too manly; he also did point out that men have too often abdicated their role as MEN QUA MEN (yes, I used "qua" XD ), and, in my words, are basically emasculated in this society.  Neither position is correct.  BUT IT'S SO HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BALANCE IS.

And I think a major problem is that it ISN'T cut and dry.  It's not black and white.  It's not BOOM, man, you stand over here in the glittering corner office and BAM, woman, you put your pearls on and work in the kitchen.  Woman, don't you start wishing you had an outlet for your creativity besides baking apple pies.  Uh uh, man; don't you start hankering after a quiet day at home puttering on your own turf away from the daily grind.  The natures of men and women are CUT and D - okay, I can't keep this up.  This is ridiculous and a total strawman.

The natures of man and woman are mingled from BEFORE the beginning.  They both have their origin from the same God, whose nature is itself perfectly combined masculinity and femininity.  God reveals himself as the powerful king, the ruler of mankind, the judge, the redeemer, the champion - masculine.  But all through the grain of those qualities there are immense and shining strains of the shepherd, the caretaker, the provider, the one jealous for his own glory and dignity and splendour, the boundless, tender heart, the ineffable love - feminine.  Created from that, men and women, living as much as they can to their full potential within their times and spheres, are going to exhibit BOTH aspects of their divine maker.

the balance will not be in the middle

EVERYONE is in some way different.  Some men are naturally more tender-hearted than others; some women are naturally more tough-skinned than their compatriots.  This is not a case of measuring out exact portions of masculinity and femininity and doling them out to everyone so that we're all cookie-cutter impressions of an infinite God.  NO.  Our souls and our lives are uniquely our own.  We will find the balance in Christ.

For those men who are strong and bluff, remember how Jesus wept for Jerusalem and LONGED to gather her under his wings as a hen broods lovingly over her chicks.  For the women who are meek and poor in spirit, remember that wisdom is portrayed as a woman clothed in strength and dignity and a pillar in the household of mankind.  REMEMBER THE ROCK FROM WHICH YOU WERE HEWN.  You bear the mark of God on you.  You will be both strong and tender.  You will be both meek and zealous.  You will be both masculine and feminine.  The balance will not be in the middle.  That is as it should be.

I know there is so much more that can be said on this topic.  The floor is open.  Please chime in!  In both life and writing, how do you find these two aspects of man's nature playing out?

image via pinterest