Hunkering Down in the Headlands

Hunkering Down is a term we all have heard at one time or another. But what does it mean to "hunker down?" The definition and etymology might surprise you.
To hunker means:
1. To squat close to the ground; to crouch.
2. To take shelter, settle in, or hide out.
3.To hold stubbornly to a position.
"Hunkers" literally means: the haunches [of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hokra, to crouch.] Over at worldwidewords.com they tell us this about hunkering: "The Oxford English Dictionary has a fine description of how to hunker: “squat, with the haunches, knees, and ankles acutely bent, so as to bring the hams near the heels, and throw the whole weight upon the fore part of the feet.” The advantage of this position is that you’re not only crouched close to the ground, thus presenting a small target for whatever the universe chooses to throw at you, but you’re also ready to move at a moment’s notice. Either into or out of battle.
So we can see that hunkering is something one does in the face of perceived dangers or uncomfort-
able circumstances; hiding out and holding to what you are, or know, in the face of severe conditions. Question: Does the behavior of animals have anything to teach us about surviving tough conditions?
Bears hunker down in their dens (probably watching a certain Chicago Football team) all winter.
Frogs hunker in the mud (hoping for radiant skin in the spring, don’t ‘cha know ).
Even some moths hunker down all winter (no doubt with a large supply of malted moth balls).
Birds on the other hand fly to Cabo for the winter where there is no hunkering (except during 'swim suit edition' photo shoots).
Many birds do however engage in torpor (usually induced by too many Margaritas in the hot Caribbean sun).
Here in Yaquina City we know about hunkering down, and this last winter was a prime example. December brought us a 120+ mph storm which saw all of us crouching in our homes and hoping the 90 foot fir tree next door didn't fall in our direction (causing severe and unwanted hunkering). But hey! Life is messy and threats to our safety are all around us, all the time. And so, in the human social and political world, as well as the animal one, there is a time when dangers dictate that we should hunker down for a bit, waiting for a more favorable climate.
Economic recessions are a perfect example of when to hunker down. The increasing suspension of our liberties is another. Attacks on our religious beliefs might call for hunkering; the church in the old Soviet Union went under-
ground (hunkered) for almost 60 years and not only survived, but prospered. Just as the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, "...there is a time for every activity under the heaven... a time to be silent and a time to speak..." (Ecl. 3:1, 7)
Faced with the destruction of their country and temple by an overwhelming foreign army, God instructs the prophet Isaiah to tell his people, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." (Isa 28:20)
The good news here is that these terrors which are too strong for men to handle are not too strong for God; whether winter storms or rabid imperialist nations. Listen to the next verse of Isaiah, "For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhab-itants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."
The natural (carnal) mind says we must fight; the more perilous the situation the more we must struggle against it (and there is a time for that). The spiritual mind of the bible, however, often counsels the opposite.
Hunkering is not escapism, it is crouching down (providing a small target), but being ready to spring into action at a moment's notice; stubbornly holding your position... for now.
As we slip into the winter of our discontent the changing condit-
ions which call the bears to their dens and the frogs to their mud should call us to hunker down as well (economically, politically, and even spiritually). There may be time for action on these issues, but this may be a case similar to that of ancient Israel. Hunkering down and just waiting on the Lord's delivery. And He wouldn't be God if He's too weak to handle the storm, now would He?
Not to worry, He has His chosen servants and His warring angels in strategic places doing battle with the evil forces of the dark side.
Next we'll look at "How to Hunker."