It’s an old video, but it kept coming to mind for several days. There is something so compelling about the massive warrior that dominates the unfolding drama. Even though I don’t fully understand the background and context of the story being told, I’m fairly certain he is not “good”, not at this point, at least. Not anymore. . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R69nV4HOaE While I have played several characters in a couple of different RPG’s, thrilling to the imagined power of sharp steel in my hand, slewing through an array of evil opponents with varying degrees of success as I grow in knowledge and experience and strength, none of my characters have been Heroes of the Land. I’ve marveled at those who so ably portray the leadership and courage it takes to do so, even if only virtually.
Is there a little bit of evil in the best of heroes? Doesn’t there almost need to be, to truly understand what it takes to defeat evil? Innocence and naiveté are cherished characteristics of the Saint of God, are they not? And yet just how useful are they in this battle we face with cunning darkness? If the Prince of Darkness is massive and devious and sometimes quite successful in his tactics against us, shouldn’t we be all the more massive and keen-witted and successful in thwarting him?!
No, not us, actually, but God in us, I realize. Yet if we do not allow Him to channel all His best through us, we will forever be gaunt and cringing and utterly defeated, as an army in dismal disarray as they retreat from loss after loss. Or worse, we will rely on what little natural strength our own flesh may possess, and settle for being merely the assistant to the Hero, or the cook . . or a nameless face in the ranks of the infantry.
Don’t get me wrong . . there is a need for each of those in any military organization, and nothing more fulfilling than blooming in the place where you are called to be (and conversely, nothing worse than trying to rise to a position you are neither fit nor ready to fill!) and yet isn’t there an identity in the heart of us all with the Hero? The Conqueror? The Savior? For whatever the situation that is calling for us to ascend to that place, as He wills us and in His time, we must answer that call and take on the mantle of leadership and responsibility.
Whether He is calling us to a ministry, or motherhood, or corporate leadership, or presiding over the Pork Producers’ Board . . are we doing so with a determination of excellence? Are we “massive” and courageous, drawing from His heart all that we need, the armor and weapons and potions and tactical information . . . for the Call that is at hand?
This blonde-crowned Hero in the video did not become invincible overnight. He was trained, perhaps since childhood, to the end of securing his goal, doing whatever it took to reach it. Day in and day out, it had to have dominated everything he did. Surely he trained hard with the best teachers he could find, studied and learned and absorbed whatever would further his heart and flesh in his destined path. Should we do no less?
There is a fleeting moment in the video where he captures one of the crimson rose petals that are falling from above and holds it in his leather and chain clad hand, pausing with what can only hope is a pensive tenderness . . as if teetering upon the cliff’s edge of a decision. A few scenes later, the video again returns to him as he crushes the petal and casts it from him with careless disdain. All symbolic, I’m sure, of a decision made, his destiny now cast. Who cannot relate to that.
There are those who say that the sword he bore was possessed of an evil that slowly drove him insane. I suppose there are all sorts of lessons to be learned from such a story, how easily we are dissuaded from what we once knew to be the unique Call that was given to us, and we start out with such bright hope and expectancy. But one small choice, wrongly chosen, or chosen with educated deliberation, can divert the stream of our history. Mercifully, we do not always fall into such a cavernous despair that he cannot draw us up out of it . . over and over, if need be . . and set us once again back into the battle. Slightly more scarred and beaten, perhaps . . Wiser and more alert, hopefully. Stronger. More massive.
Dangerous, yes . .
I am preaching to myself. Listen, you.
Is there a little bit of evil in the best of heroes? Doesn’t there almost need to be, to truly understand what it takes to defeat evil? Innocence and naiveté are cherished characteristics of the Saint of God, are they not? And yet just how useful are they in this battle we face with cunning darkness? If the Prince of Darkness is massive and devious and sometimes quite successful in his tactics against us, shouldn’t we be all the more massive and keen-witted and successful in thwarting him?!
No, not us, actually, but God in us, I realize. Yet if we do not allow Him to channel all His best through us, we will forever be gaunt and cringing and utterly defeated, as an army in dismal disarray as they retreat from loss after loss. Or worse, we will rely on what little natural strength our own flesh may possess, and settle for being merely the assistant to the Hero, or the cook . . or a nameless face in the ranks of the infantry.
Don’t get me wrong . . there is a need for each of those in any military organization, and nothing more fulfilling than blooming in the place where you are called to be (and conversely, nothing worse than trying to rise to a position you are neither fit nor ready to fill!) and yet isn’t there an identity in the heart of us all with the Hero? The Conqueror? The Savior? For whatever the situation that is calling for us to ascend to that place, as He wills us and in His time, we must answer that call and take on the mantle of leadership and responsibility.
Whether He is calling us to a ministry, or motherhood, or corporate leadership, or presiding over the Pork Producers’ Board . . are we doing so with a determination of excellence? Are we “massive” and courageous, drawing from His heart all that we need, the armor and weapons and potions and tactical information . . . for the Call that is at hand?
This blonde-crowned Hero in the video did not become invincible overnight. He was trained, perhaps since childhood, to the end of securing his goal, doing whatever it took to reach it. Day in and day out, it had to have dominated everything he did. Surely he trained hard with the best teachers he could find, studied and learned and absorbed whatever would further his heart and flesh in his destined path. Should we do no less?
There is a fleeting moment in the video where he captures one of the crimson rose petals that are falling from above and holds it in his leather and chain clad hand, pausing with what can only hope is a pensive tenderness . . as if teetering upon the cliff’s edge of a decision. A few scenes later, the video again returns to him as he crushes the petal and casts it from him with careless disdain. All symbolic, I’m sure, of a decision made, his destiny now cast. Who cannot relate to that.
There are those who say that the sword he bore was possessed of an evil that slowly drove him insane. I suppose there are all sorts of lessons to be learned from such a story, how easily we are dissuaded from what we once knew to be the unique Call that was given to us, and we start out with such bright hope and expectancy. But one small choice, wrongly chosen, or chosen with educated deliberation, can divert the stream of our history. Mercifully, we do not always fall into such a cavernous despair that he cannot draw us up out of it . . over and over, if need be . . and set us once again back into the battle. Slightly more scarred and beaten, perhaps . . Wiser and more alert, hopefully. Stronger. More massive.
Dangerous, yes . .
I am preaching to myself. Listen, you.
