What Makes a Man?

Having just completed yet another reading of The Shepherd of the Hills, I must say I did focus more on this particular trip through those history-making pages. The novel that caused the Branson phenomenon has several wonderful lessons within its century-old text. Author Harold Bell Wright used the central character, Dad Howitt, a.k.a. the Shepherd, as the presenter of most of the teachings found in the book. Howitt, the sophisticated outsider, ends up being a real positive influence on the backwoods locals, although he carried more emotional baggage than most of the simple-minded residents when he arrived in the Ozarks.

One of the lessons that stuck out to me happened in chapter 24, as Dad informally taught Young Matt what was required to call himself a man. The quote here pretty much sums it up, "Your mankind depends upon this, and upon nothing else, that you conquer and control the animal side of yourself. It will be a sad moment for you, and for all of us who love you, if you ever forget. Don't you see lad, it is this victory only that gives you the right to think of yourself as a man." Just prior to this quote, Howitt mentions, "It is always a God's blessing, lad, when a man masters the worst of himself." Young Matt had approached the Shepherd in a rage as he had just seen the girl he loved with the man she promised to marry. Howitt used the lesson to pacify the youthful, muscular giant and convince him of the importance of self-control in manhood.

This is a lesson that needs presented to all of our boys and young adult males as they prepare for adulthood. Our prisons are crowded with ones who have lost the battle with their personal beast. Many have let their inner-monster be a bully to others, while some of the caged animals within the bullied have lashed out violently in return. Others let their worst show before their wives and children, ruling over the family with the terror of abuse. Dad Howitt is correct when he says it is a sad moment, yet for many of the ones involved, the sadness ends up being a lifetime.

Earlier in the novel, Young Matt quotes Dad Howitt in chapter 10 when he states, "No man needn't be afraid of nobody but himself." This is so true, as really the only person who can destroy the man is himself. He is the one who holds the reins of his inner-beast, and on the road of life, there is no room for a runaway carriage. Just one slip of the grip, and he can lose his handsome title of 'man.' Don't let it happen, boys!