How would you define these two things?
- 1. A Gate
- 2. A Gatekeeper
Here is a definition that I like about “the position” of Gatekeeper.
“Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.” 1st Chronicles 9:22 NIV/Biblegateway
Note: Have you had the experience of studying something, and during your investigation find one sentence that packs so much information into a few words it stops you in your tracks? This happens with me with every bible verse… but there is an awful lot to unpack with this one.
Let’s start with “the gate”.
We’ve all passed through a gate; doorway; portico; or screen door on a porch.
But when I think of “a gate”, my mind goes to farms and ranches. And when you get “to” a gate, someone has to get out of the truck to open it… and more importantly… remember to close it!
Those types of “cattle gates” are often painted red, when new, constructed of tubular steel, and hopefully incorporate a nice wheel on the one end to allow fluid movement. (most don’t have a wheel, and that’s why nobody likes riding shotgun and being responsible for lifting and struggling with opening the gate and then closing it again)
The gate itself has a job. It is a physical focal point. “All roads lead to Rome…” and almost every pasture lane leads to a livestock gate.
Then, at that focal point, the gate meters the flow… of cows; cars; and the comings and goings of anyone on the farm/ranch.
If the gate is open… flow away… if the gate is closed… no flow Joe!
Historically gates kept the flow in check of everything from… Silk secrets seeping out; Lions and Lambs mingling; and helping to slow advancing Caravans and would be Conquerors!!!
The gate itself is very important… but… with the right bull, or b.s., it can amount to nothing more than a minor speed bump.
But place the right “gate keeper” in charge of said gate, and then any cow, bull, or b.s.er, will come to know… “None shall pass!”
Which brings us back to our verse… let’s break it down a little.
“Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212.“
Altogether… chosen… thresholds… numbered 212. If you are a gatekeeper, you are in a very small club. Even today.
“They were registered by genealogy in their villages.“
Registered… basically by family… so they were “known”. I was in charge of a particular gate for over 20 years, with the flow of people; purchases; and and a couple of b.s.ers thrown in for good measure… everybody involved knew who I was, even if they didn’t know me personally.
“The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.”
To me this is thee DEFINITION , what it is all about… positions of trust! Assigned by The King.
Some who attain the position of gatekeeper con-volute the high degree of responsibility into a license to inflate their power ranking… and instead of a nice metered flow of language; ideas; or goods and commerce, they create a log jam, getting an ego boost when “things move when I say they move.”
As an Emerging Man, when I look back at my time manning my gate, it is one of the experiences that points me to believe that, “yes, I felt like a man, when manning that gate.”
It didn’t hit me all at once mind you.
My first day of work was chaotic; confusing; hot!… and I had to change from my “civilian attire” to my newly assigned “work uniform” (a royal blue t-shirt with logo) on the fly, as my supervisor tossed it to me as he drove through the gate!
My instructions, “Don’t let anyone out of the gate without paperwork!”
Vrooooom… and there he was, gone. And conveniently not telling me what that paperwork was!
It was kinda fun, and there was only about 1100 customers who were going to be using the gate.
Fast forward 20 plus years and I was the guy helping to design any paperwork that would be used when checking out of that gate.
As I look back at those years I learned what manning a gate may require…
- duty, discipline & honor… (I have yet to attain to the 3)
- clear communications in many languages, even though I only speak English, and a touch, a light touch of Spanish… but I was able to communicate with people from, literally, around the world. I always thought that was the coolest part of it all.
- discernment… “can I help you? You seem lost.”
- accountability… one man ALONE responsible for the gate.
- maturity… sometimes you had to stay late.
- understanding… you end up working with everybody.
- knowledge of WHO belongs where.
- the ability, character, and skill to work alone, performing all pertinent duties from the office, the shop, the heavy equipment, and whatever etc etc etc would entail.
And if you look up verse 27, you’ll see all of this lands on the gatekeepers along with the key they have been given.
As an Emerging Man you have a few gates that you are responsible for… they might not reveal themselves all at once… they may be overgrown having had no flow for so long… maybe one is nailed shut… and maybe one (usually our mind gate) has been propped open allowing all manner of traffic to flow freely in and out… and unchecked!
And the gate of our mouth… the stuff we allow to flow in and out of that gate… everything from chocolate eclairs and their empty calories, to egregious and ugly expletives, maybe even directed at the elderly just out for a Sunday drive.
Mind your gates gentleman.
And as Jesus says that HE is the gate, you also, are the main gate in your life… so what is getting by you… unchecked? What gates, and what responsibilities of your life have you either nailed shut and cut off, or have allowed to run amok, like a Labrador Retriever who is dragging the trash throughout the house?
In my work life recently, I tried to not go out of my way to take on any new gates, and the entailing responsibilities… but just like that Labrador sniffing out that garbage can… I know I’m at a new gate in my life because I can feel the wet nose of a gate, and its responsibilities, bumping into my elbow, as I sit and survey my life.
I don’t have my Emerging Man Message exactly diagrammed out just yet… but one thing about manhood; masculinity; and just being a man is becoming clear… just like a Lions mane marks him as a Lion, our RESPONSIBILITIES mark us as men.
If you are not taking care of yourself, keeping fit and strong, I can surmise you may not be taking on that particular responsibility… making it obvious that your own mane… is at best… scraggly.
Man the gate! man.
Support yourself. And as you do, as a man, you will become stronger… and be able to support, and take care of… others. Being able to man, monitor, and operate your specific life gate(s).
Take some time and identify your gates.
Because they are yours… … and yours alone.
But you are not alone, being a man, there are many men manning their gates every day, even EMERGING MEN! like you.
The EMERGING MAN writing to ENCOURAGE, EQUIP & ENGAGE!
And offering “Positivity w/ Work gloves!”
theemergingman.com 