Because everyone loves a good story
Outside, Part 2: Sounds of Spring
If you read last week’s post, you saw how excited I am that spring has finally sprung. I celebrated the sunshine and smells of spring, but this week I wanted to wax eloquent (or maybe just wax regular) upon the theme of springtime’s sounds. Join me, won’t you?
The Great Outdoors
This first one may not seem like a sound at first, but hear me out. One easily-overlooked sound of spring is the sound of being outside in general. When I lived in South Texas, this wasn’t as noticeable to me since I spent as much time as possible outside during the “winter.” Sure, there were weeks when it was downright cold and wet or even icy, but from November through February, the weather was generally ideal—perfect for hiking, jogging, and hanging out. It was a wonderful feeling to know that, in mid-January, all I had to do to run my errands was slip on a pair of flip flops with my shorts and tank top and walk out into the sunshine. I never had a chance to forget what the outdoors sound like.
But now that I’m back in Michigan, it’s much more tempting to go into hibernation when winter hits. I could pretty easily hole up in my small, cozy house, going outside only when I dash to and from my pre-heated car on my way to other small, cozy houses. But when I hibernate like that, I get used to the sounds of smallness: creaking floors, ticking clocks, friendly voices, and the washing machine, the sounds all muted by blankets, carpet, and four close walls.
But when spring rolls around and I finally emerge, bleary-eyed, from my long winter’s nap, I remember the sound of the great outdoors. It sounds like openness, the world’s expanse unbroken by walls and unmuted by carpet. It sounds like vastness, my ears filled with the quiet roar of open sky. It sounds nothing like my small, cozy house, and I love it.
Warble and Chirp
Like a joyful descant above the melody of openness is the sound of birds. When the silence of winter is finally pierced by the first gutsy little bird, you know spring is on its way. By the way, you’ve got to love the chutzpa of springtime songbirds. They’ve left their southern resorts and flown who-knows-how-far to get back to their summer homes up north only to realize when they get here that, once again, they’re too early. It may have thawed yesterday, but it’s snowing today. And yet they don’t pack up and head back to Florida for a few more weeks of swim trunks and shuffleboard; they stick it out, their shivers adding vibrato to their audacious little tunes.
Nothing sounds so hopeful, so cheery as the songbirds in spring. To be perfectly frank, I can’t identify most birds by their songs. Of course there’s the raspy chuckle of the chickadee and the mellow lament of the mourning dove. I’d also recognize the old internet dialup sound of the red-winged blackbird, but I can’t boast many more. (My mom and husband, both aspiring ornithologists, would be very disappointed with me.) But personally, I don’t need to know who’s singing in order to enjoy the song, so bring on the chorus and cacophony. To me, it’s the soundtrack of spring.
Patter and Rumble
Ooh, thunder storms. This springtime sound is usually enjoyed most from the comforts of your small, cozy house because spring is a bit chillier than summer, but either way it’s still wonderful. Just a few weeks ago I got to enjoy the first thunder storm of the season. Actually, it was accompanied by the first tornado of the season, which was less wonderful, but the storm itself delighted me. I heard the rain on my roof turn from tapping to drumming to deluging. Then, from somewhere miles away, I heard the rumble of thunder like heaven’s timpanis. I hadn’t been expecting a thunderstorm, so I thought it may be a semi barreling over some potholes or a neighbor watching an entire shelf of cast iron cookware fall to the floor. But when the rumble happened again, I knew we were enjoying the first storm of spring. I hunkered down in my warm, dry house and savored the storm.
Chatter and Splash
With all the storming and thawing, spring is the perfect time to hear the voices of the water. (Not in a Pocahontas sort of way; I don’t plan on painting with the colors of the wind any time soon.) But spring is the perfect season for enjoying the multitude of sounds that water can make. In spring, the ducks go from waddling glumly across an icy pond to splashing, floating, and diving under its liquid surface, happy to move about in all three dimensions once again. The creeks turn from sluggish little streaks to busy channels, full and flowing. Even something as prosaic as a drainage ditch seems picturesque as the water cascades through the long grasses and splashes around scenic McDonalds cups.
But one of my favorite harbingers of spring is the creaking of the frogs in the freshly-thawed ponds. The chorus is as deafening as cicadas in a southern summer and twice as nice. They must have come up with really interesting things to talk about during their hibernation, because when they all get together in spring, they’re as chatty as a bus full of ‘90’s girls on their way to a Hanson concert. Ok, that analogy was a little much, I admit. All I’m trying to say is that, to me, the giddy, incessant creaking of frogs is as springy as it gets.
That’s a Wrap
Well, I don’t know what it’s like where you’re at, but today is a beautiful, blustery day with plenty of sunshine, and I intend to enjoy it. I hope you get some beautiful weather this week, and when you go outside, don’t forget to listen. Spring is singing to you.
Outside, Part 1: The Big Thaw
Ah, outside. I love outside. In fact, when I was a baby, “outside” was one of my first words. My mom says that I would stand at a window, my hands and nose pressed to the glass, begging, “Outside? Outside?” My husband will tell you that, after all these years, not much has changed.
It’s easy to make me happy: just take me outside, especially when the weather is beautiful. It’s fresh, it’s free, and it’s fun! And now that we’re enjoying some slightly warmer weather, I’m sure all my fellow northerners are getting pretty excited, too. After all, it’s beginning to look a lot like springtime! And as this week held the first official day of spring, I thought I’d post a little something to celebrate a few things I love about The Big Thaw.
The Sunshine
Personally, I’ve found that the past two Michigan winters had plenty of sunny days to keep me happy, but I’d lived in South Texas for 11 years before that, so maybe I’m just not sick of northern winters yet. But even though I don’t hate winter, I sure am excited about spring! After a long, cold winter, there’s nothing like spring sunshine to warm the soil and the soul.
Springtime sunshine means lighter jackets, fewer layers, and overall less hassle when you want to go outside. For example, when I want to take a walk in the winter, I have to put on my thermal pants and sweat pants; my thin socks and thick socks; my tee shirt, thermal shirt, and sweatshirt; my boots, coat, hat, scarf, and mittens. And now that we’ve added a baby to all this preparation, it hardly seems worth it. But in springtime—ah, springtime—you can toss on a light jacket, some tennies, and maybe a hat, and you’re all set. The sun will do the rest.
And now that daylight savings time is here, we’ve scored a whole extra hour of sunshine in the evening! Add to that the fact that we’re gaining a few minutes of light every day, and you have the perfect recipe for enjoying these rays even longer. It does my heart good to look out the window at 8:00 P.M. and still see the remnants of sunset behind the trees. It reminds me that summer is just around the corner, and that, my friends, is a wonderful thing.
The Smells
In winter, many of the outside smells are either muted or gone. Sure, you’ll smell the cozy tang of a woodfire or the crisp scent of snow. You might even get lucky enough to smell some fir trees now and then, but there’s not much else going on in the olfactory department. Maybe that’s why the smells of springtime are enough to send my heart sky high with bliss. I’m not even kidding. On the first warm day this year, I got to take a walk through a little nature center down the road from us, and I was nearly giddy with happiness. I kept sniffing and sniffing, taking in all the smells of spring. What kinds of smells, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.
One of my favorite scents is warm, thawing earth. After so many months of frozen ground, the smell of dirt is music to my nose. It smells so rich, so hopeful, so full of potential and promise. Smelling the first days of thawed dirt gives me a glimpse of what Noah must have felt like when the dove brought back the olive branch: there is hope for life.
Along with the smell of dirt is the smell of damp leaves. Yes, I know it’s just decaying plant matter, but it smells beautiful to me. I love the sweet, spicy scent of dry leaves in the fall, but the scent of warm, wet leaves in the spring is just as nice. They smell earthy and comforting.
And finally, I love the smell of growing things. This year, it’s too early for me to have smelled anything growing yet, but I know it’s coming. Soon the little sprouts of grass will peek tentatively through the dirt, and the tiny leaves will emerge from their buds like butterfly wings from cocoons. Crocus will smile shyly, while daffodils will beam from ear to ear, both lending their aromas to the sunshine. All these living, growing things will fill the air with freshness and life—the perfume of spring.
Happy Spring!
While there is much, much more that I love about spring, I think I’ll save it for another day. Today, the sunshine is calling, and I must go. I hope you have a chance to get outside and savor the season, too. Happy spring!
Check out the next post here!
Celebrating Dr. Seuss!
It’s March, and that means National Reading Month! I remember Reading Month in elementary school; we would bring books and snacks and would wait as eagerly as Pavlov’s dogs to hear the reading bell ring during the day. That bell meant we could stop whatever class we were in and start reading. We got to seek out a cozy corner of the room, take out our snacks, and spend half an hour in the imaginary world of our choosing. What a glorious idea!
Strangely, one of my most vivid memories of reading month was actually the time that I brought carob chips as my snack. I had wanted to bring something sweet and chocolatey, but that’s not the kind of house I was raised in. All we had at home was this weird, healthy “chocolate” knockoff. An adult woman on an extreme diet may have been able to fool herself into thinking that carob tasted good, but not me. I knew I was eating brown chalk. However, although my snack was a bust, I’m sure my book was good enough to make up for it.
Anywho, I would be remiss to let National Reading Month pass without acknowledging one of the most influential authors for children: Dr. Seuss. Let’s take a quick peek at his biography, his effect on children’s literature, and a few of my personal favorite Seuss books!
The Doctor’s Early Years
Dr. Seuss wasn’t actually born with a doctorate degree…or with the last name of Seuss. In fact, he was born as Theodor Seuss Geisel in 1904, Seuss having been his mother’s maiden name. He must have enjoyed drawing and writing as a wee lad, because those tendencies followed him to college at Dartmouth. He was actually the editor of their humor magazine…at least until he got the boot from that position because he and his friends were caught drinking during the prohibition.
Naughty Ted.
But that punishment didn’t keep him from contributing to the magazine under various pseudonyms, including Dr. Seuss. His enjoyment of cartoons and writing followed him to Oxford where he began pursuing a postgraduate degree in English Literature. But he soon found that he enjoyed doodling in his notebooks more than the lectures themselves, so he dropped out and returned to America, working as a cartoonist for various advertisements.
Challenge Accepted
Seems like a rough start, right? But his beginning as a children’s author was even more unpromising. His first illustrated children’s book, “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” was rejected close to 30 times before one of his friends in the publishing business took a chance on Seuss. That was way back in 1937, and while he continued to publish children’s books every few years, it wasn’t until 1957 that he got his big break with “The Cat in the Hat.” But with a break that big, it was worth the wait.
So why does everyone think that book is the cat’s pajamas? The fact is, the book was pretty groundbreaking. At that time, children’s educational books weren’t known to be exciting page-turners. Most of them were of the “See Spot run” variety—equally effective as a teaching tool and a sedative. Kids didn’t enjoy them, so kids didn’t enjoy reading. After a few articles were published about this conundrum, the public became concerned. A few people even suggested that Dr. Seuss remedy the situation by writing something more interesting for kids…using only 220 words…from a list of 348 basic vocabulary words.
Guys, that would be really, really hard.
But in the fires of this challenge was forged a book like no other. “The Cat in the Hat” emerged as a triumph of children’s literature, made from the perfect alloy of education and imagination. (Enough with the sword analogy. I’ll cut it short and get back to the point.) The point is, Dr. Seuss had introduced a new kind of book for little readers, and it changed everything.
The Style of Seuss
Dr. Seuss is best known for his comical meter and fantastical drawings. As a writer of silly, rhyming stories, he is nearly unrivaled. While a few of his books are written in prose, the majority are written in anapestic tetrameter—a ten-dollar term that just means he stuck with the same kind of rhythm in most of his books. I think kids love the rhythm of poetry in general, but it’s the content of Seuss’s poems that appeals to them even more. It’s like he tapped into the brains of some wacky kids and extracted the strange stuff they dreamed up. And it’s not just kids who enjoy it; everyone knows that the capers of Thing 1 and Thing 2 are more interesting that seeing Spot run. Sorry, Spot.
For someone who enjoyed writing nonsense, Dr. Seuss also wrote several books that teach moral lessons. He didn’t want to be blatantly didactic (although this author believes that he may have inadvertently strayed into that realm a time or two…), but he did want to teach children the importance of equality, conservation, and other topics that concerned him. He didn’t believe in “writing down” to children as inferior beings; rather, he wanted to present information to them as equals. Equals who like silly words and bright pictures. And as his books are still some of the most popular children’s literature today, I’d say he did something right.
It’s wonderful that Dr. Seuss was not only the author but also the illustrator of his books. That way we know we’re getting to see exactly what he meant by truffula trees and zizzer-zazzer-zuzz. His iconic characters and colorful landscapes make his books fun even for kids who can’t read yet. And he had so much to say! He continued to write, illustrate, and publish books until 1990, the year before he passed away.
Some of my Favorites
While there are so many Seuss books to choose from, I’ll just mention two that I remember from growing up. The first is called “The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins,” and it’s actually one of the few books that Dr. Seuss wrote in prose instead of poetry. And for a children’s book, it’s pretty long! Bartholomew is a little peasant boy who gets into trouble for not taking off his hat when the king passes in the street. The problem is that Bartholomew did take off his hat, but there was an identical hat underneath! And then another and another and…you get the picture. If you haven’t read this one in a while (or ever), I think you’d get a kick out of reading it.
And I’d have to give my second acknowledgement to “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” since it was a graduation gift. It’s the last book that Dr. Seuss wrote, so you know he saved up some good stuff for it. I think it’s a healthy blend of inspirational and realistic. He assures you that on your journey through life, sometimes you’ll be awesome…but not always. That’s a needful balance to today’s “You-will-win-every-game-and-be-the-best-at-everything” mindset, but it’s hopeful enough to give to a high school graduate without depressing him. It’s a fine balance, but Seuss achieved it.
Here’s to You, Dr. Seuss!
So next time you open a children’s book to read to your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or even yourself, take a moment to thank the good Doctor for his contributions. His books opened the dam to a flood of enjoyable, colorful, appealing children’s books that will continue to water young minds for years to come. Thanks, Dr. Seuss!
Today’s Question: What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book, and why?
Sources:
http://www.seussville.com/#/author
Oh, the Places We’ve Been
Remember just over a year ago? Do you recall how bleak your life was every Friday afternoon? You would check your inbox and find nothing but work, spam, and misery. There was no bright spot in your weekend, no resource for all topics nerdy, and no hope on the horizon. In short, you were experiencing life without this blog.
But then you met Past Watchful Dragons, and the sun came shining through the clouds.
Yessir, for a year we have been together, plumbing the depths of literature, the Lord, and life. We have examined a vast smattering of topics and a wide array of articles, and we’ve enjoyed every minute of it. (Right, guys? Haven’t we?) Well, I have, at any rate. And let me tell you, I have been so thankful for the comments and feedback you’ve given me as well. Sometimes it’s alright for me to know that I’ve sent my inmost thoughts out into the void, but it’s so much nicer when the void replies back to me. Thank you, and please keep it up!
I just wanted to take a moment to light this solitary birthday candle and bask in its orange flickers, reminiscing about where we’ve been and looking forward to where we’re going. Will you join me?
Where We’ve Been
This past year, I’ve really enjoyed having a blog to keep me writing, even though some of my posts seem to have come out of nowhere. You’d find most of these in the FYI category because they’re just that: a hodge-podge of thoughts for your information and enjoyment. I’ve talked about my past hiking adventures (and misadventures), about my enjoyment of all things spring, and even the shape of your mind. While these are just random odds and ends that I’ve found interesting, I hope you’ve found them interesting too.
But without doubt, my two greatest passions are literature and the Lord. That’s why the bulk of my posts fall somewhere in those two categories—with many of them falling at the intersection between the two. For literature, we’ve slogged through several lengthy series based on books that have had a big impact on me: C.S. Lewis’ science fiction trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories, and especially Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey. That one was quite a doozey, but I’m so glad we took 16 weeks to unpack it. (By the by, if you actually read the whole series, I’d be happy to send you some kind of trophy. You would deserve it.) We’ve also studied a couple of masterful poems and several awesome children’s books since those are two of the most powerful literary genres, in my humble opinion.
But we’ve also spent a great deal of time talking about Jesus. We’ve looked together at several passages of scripture, from parables about the kingdom of Heaven to the idea of Christian liberty and even our longing for consummation. Christian books have also played a big part in our time together: Every Moment Holy, Passion and Purity, The Pursuit of God, and King’s Cross, to name a few. And, last but not least, we’ve thought about the way Jesus factors into everyday life as the light, the hidden meaning, the hero, and the Savior. I know that she who teaches learns most, and that is certainly true for she who writes as well. Thank you for the opportunity to share what I’m learning with you!
What I’ve Learned
And speaking of learning, I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned along the way this year. First of all, I’ve never claimed to know much about technology. I’ve always felt that paper is my happy place, and the digital realm is a necessary evil. But as I went about the process of starting a blog, I realized just how little I know about technology. I mean, I’ve had to do hours and hours of research just to figure out what the web host site was talking about, not to mention the time it took me to actually set the thing up! And while the result was far from fancy, it was adequate, and that’s good enough for me.
I’ve also learned that it’s well-nigh impossible for me to keep up with a blog, a book brainstorm, and a baby. One of them had to give, and I thought it wouldn’t be conscionable to neglect my tiny offspring. Also, I should be able to manage posting a blog article each week (although I won’t tell you how long it actually takes me to churn out these posts. I’m a slow writer, so it’s embarrassing). But the whole point of this blog was to help keep me thinking as I went about the process of trying to write a novel or three. However, while I took several running starts at a story idea and ended up with oodles and oodles of brainstorming, I wasn’t able to begin the book itself yet. I’ll never give up and never surrender, but it may be a hot minute before my child is self-sustaining enough for me to pick up the book brainstorming again. Harumph.
Finally, I’ve had a suspicion confirmed for me: literature is a broad topic with a narrow audience. While I think books are the cat’s pajamas, there are people out there who just can’t muster up that kind of enthusiasm. And I totally get that! Sometimes I find it difficult to get excited about calculus and spreadsheets. But while I can’t promise to stop writing literary posts, I can try to make them as interesting as possible, even to Joe MathGuy (of whom I am incredibly jealous, since that part of my mind failed to form). And if I do come across an interesting math concept, I promise to share that with you as well. But don’t hold your breath.
Where We’re Going
So with all that in mind, where are we going? Well, we’re going onward and upward! As wonderful as this year has been, I’m hoping that the coming year will be even more splendid. For starters, I’m hoping to improve some of the technical nitty-gritties. I’ve been looking for a way to make the email look as good as the blog page, but I haven’t been able to crack that code yet. In the meantime, I would love it if, instead of suffering through the poor layout of the emails, you would click on the title of the post and let it take you to the website! Then you can enjoy all the fruits of my formatting labors. But I won’t give up on fixing the emails yet. There must be a way. (Joe MathGuy is probably biting his knuckles in frustration, the answer being quite obvious to him. Sorry, Joe.)
I’m also, at least temporarily, ditching the pop-up ad that asks you to subscribe to the blog. Everyone said it was an absolute must, but I haven’t found that to be the case. I mean, pop-up ads are like that insecure quasi-friend who’s always pestering you to hang out. If you wanted to hang out, you wouldn’t need a reminder; you’d just call them on your own. Anywho, hopefully this will make it even nicer for people when they visit Past Watchful Dragons.
And as far as content goes, I’m hoping to do the same but more so. I’ll be sharing more about the literature I love in hopes that it will inspire love in you, too. I’ll share more about Jesus through the passages and books that impact me. And hopefully I’ll share even more about life—the quirky, everyday stuff that keeps existence interesting. And I truly hope to hear more from you, too! Your comments make my day.
Happy Birthday
We’ve come so far, and yet there’s still so much to look forward to! Thank you again for a wonderful first year of Past Watchful Dragons. It makes my heart happy to know that you’ve read and enjoyed the posts from time to time. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a birthday candle to blow out and a wish to make. And if you’d like, I’ll even save you a piece of the cake—but you’ll have to hurry.
Old English Heroism: Jesus, Part 2
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen Beowulf’s fortitude, Robin Hood’s prudence, Harry Potter’s loyalty, and Superman’s generosity. We’ve even begun to see all these characteristics in the life of Jesus, the ultimate hero. But this topic is more than a literary rabbit trail; it’s a truth that has practical application for you and me. Want to find out more? Read on!
LOYALTY
Faithful to His Friends
John 13:1 really sums up Jesus’ faithfulness to his disciples much better than I could summarize: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” This verse is beautiful even when taken alone and at face value. It shows how Jesus chose his disciples and loved them throughout their years of ministry together. Despite their thick-headedness, he taught them. Despite their hard-heartedness, he guided them. Despite their foolishness and sinfulness, he loved them. And now, with his death just days away, he chooses not to leave but to stay and love them to the end.
But even more mind-boggling is the truth that the disciples aren’t the only ones meant by “his own who were in the world.” That phrase, according to several commentaries, also includes those who are in Christ today—that’s you and I! 1 Faced with his last, agonizing moments on earth, he thought not about himself but about those he loved. And the phrase “to the end” doesn’t only refer to the duration of his time on earth. Instead, it could actually be translated as “to the ultimate extent” or “extremely.”2 His love for us didn’t end when he exhaled his last breath on earth; to the contrary, that’s when his love was consummated. But he loved us so intensely that, in the face of his death, he continued to love and serve. And his love for his own continues today as he stands before the Father in heaven as our mediator, lovingly interceding for those who are washed by his blood. His love for us will continue forever.
Faithful to His Duty
Jesus wouldn’t have been faithful to those he loves if he hadn’t also been faithful to his duty. But, like a true hero, his was a self-appointed duty, not a task imposed by some outside necessity. God, the trinity, had designed a plan to redeem rebellious mankind (before there was even a mankind to rebel, mind you), and Jesus followed that plan throughout his entire life on earth. In fact, he declared his dedication to that duty even at the age of twelve. When his parents found him discussing theology in the temple, his response to their questioning was, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Since these are the earliest recorded words that Jesus said, it’s no surprise that they set the tone for his entire life on earth.
And sure enough, throughout his whole life he was about his Father’s business. Not once do you see Jesus rebelling, straying from the Father’s will, or even slacking off. Rather, he states his purpose and his determination in John 6:38: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” Jesus actually makes statements like this so often that it’s difficult to pick just one example. He was literally always doing the will of his Father, right up to the very end.
Matthew 26:39 records the ultimate example of Jesus’ dedication: his prayer to the Father just hours before his crucifixion. “’My Father,’” he said, “’if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’” He had come to earth for the purpose of drinking this cup—the cup of God’s wrath for our sin—but that didn’t make it feel any easier when the time came. Yet the Father made it clear that this was the only way. And so, with blood and tears and yet a heart that anticipated the coming joy, Jesus fulfilled his duty.
GENEROSITY
Openhanded with His Gifts
While Jesus’ loyalty is undisputed, his generosity is probably even easier to spot. In our discussion about generosity a few weeks ago, we said one of its connotations is openhandedness. This doesn’t always look like giving alms to the poor; in the case of Jesus, it looks like much more. Yes, he was generous with the poor, sick, and broken, but he did much more than give them a few coins. Often, he gave them encouragement, truth, healing, and restoration.
In fact, he was the epitome of openhanded, freely giving up all that he had and all that he was. He gave up his heavenly body and comfort to become a regular, limited human. He during his ministry, he gave up his time to every crowd of needy people who sought him. He gave his power to heal them and his wisdom to teach and challenge them. He gave his heart in relationships and his love to everyone. Ultimately, he gave his own life for those who didn’t deserve or even want it. And all of this was done with a heart of compassion rather than piousness. That makes Jesus the perfect example of openhanded.
Selfless with His Life
We consider an act to be selfless when we know that the one acting was under no obligation to do such a nice deed and, in fact, deserved much better. When I give you my last piece of chocolate, I’m being selfless. I deserved to eat it myself because it’s my candy, but I gave up my right for your benefit. (Fat chance of this happening, by the way. It’s just an example.) If someone wins a million dollars in a competition but gives all the money to someone who needs it, they’re being selfless. They deserved the money because they earned it, but they gave it up for someone else. You get the picture.
But who deserved more than Jesus? As rightful creator of the universe and king of all people, he deserved a throne and a fan club and endless praise. He deserved the love of the Father and fellowship with the Spirit. He deserved respect and instant obedience. And guess what? That’s exactly what he had in heaven! Philippians 2:6-8 encapsulates this idea best. It states that Jesus was in the form of God, but he gave that up willingly. Rather, he “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… [and] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Why? To bring us back to God. He deserved to continue in perfect fellowship with the Father, but he gave it up for us. Hallelujah! Jesus’ selflessness won our salvation!
Jesus, the Ultimate Hero
So, to wrap it all up, what makes Jesus the ultimate hero, and what does that mean for us? First, Jesus has existed since way, way, way before time began—eternally, in fact. He is perfect and has never changed. Therefore, if he displayed these four qualities in his life on earth, it’s because he had already possessed them (and infinitely more!) in his character forever. He has eternally been the ultimate hero.
Then, when he made man and woman, he made us in his image, although we seem to have made it our mission to mar that design. But once in a while, there is someone who stands out from the hordes of broken humanity, someone whose character contrasts with the often lazy, ignorant, cowardly, selfish majority. These people who display fortitude, prudence, loyalty, and generosity instead are so rare that we consider them to be heroes.
Why? Because these qualities are in vogue this year? No; as we’ve seen, these qualities have been heroic for thousands of years—since creation itself. I believe that it’s because we are made in the image of the ultimate hero, God himself. To the extent that we embody his character, we fulfill his purpose for us. That’s hard for us to do consistently, which is why it’s easier to find heroes in story books rather than history books. But one part of Jesus’ mission on earth was to set an example for us to follow. Sure, it’s impossible to live up to his example completely, but with the Holy Spirit’s power within us, we can make small strides to that end.
So what do you say? We’ve seen what it takes to be a hero. Isn’t it time we stopped settling for average and started striving for the heroic?
1 https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=43&c=13
2 https://biblehub.com/john/13-1.htm
Old English Heroism: Jesus, Part 1
The word “hero” can be applied pretty loosely these days. If you can poke a few buttons in rhythm with the lines on a screen, you’re considered a guitar hero. If you bring coffee for your coworkers on a Monday morning, you’re the office hero. Even a sandwich has managed to gain the title! Is the concept really that cheap?
If you’ve been tracking with me for the past several weeks, then you’ve seen four fictional characters who display the heroic qualities of fortitude, prudence, loyalty, and generosity. That’s pretty great, but it raises the question: are all heroes fictional? Isn’t there a real person who embodies all these traits and more? I bet you know my answer to those questions, but read on to see why I believe Jesus is the ultimate real-life hero.
JESUS EMBODIED FORTITUDE
His Physical Endurance
Jesus was no bodybuilder. I mean, he was literally a Body Builder at creation (da-dum-tsss!), but when he chose his own body before his incarnation (!!!), he picked a normal one. In fact, the Bible says he didn’t stand out physically at all. If you saw him in a crowd, you wouldn’t even take notice of him. So when it comes to fortitude, Jesus may not seem like the poster child for physical endurance.
But have you forgotten his forty-day fast in the wilderness? And think of how much worse it would be, knowing that you could make food out of thin air or even manipulate your own digestive system to stop registering hunger. Consider also that for four years he had no home, nowhere to rest. He often stayed up all night in prayer. He walked from town to town, surrounded by mobs of needy people who wanted his attention and begged for his help all the time. And I think parenting is hard!
Ultimately, he chose to withstand the most excruciating form of execution. It may seem like he lacked physical endurance in his last hours because he needed help carrying his cross, and he later told the onlookers that he was thirsty. But to me, these show the ultimate endurance because he admitted the needs and continued on rather than eradicating the needs. He could have asked for superhuman strength and gotten it. He could have requested wine from angels and received it. He could have chosen to leave the scene entirely, striking everyone with lightning bolts on his way out, but he didn’t.
Jesus stayed, and he endured.
His Mental Endurance
Can you imagine knowing every fact—everything past, present, and future; everything scientific, philosophical, and moral? Then imagine patiently listening to everyone making incorrect assumptions and touting false ideas all day long. I think I would snap. Can you imagine knowing every thought that passes through the mind of the people around you—every critical judgment, every disgusting desire, every self-righteous idea? It would be impossible to tolerate anyone, much less befriend them. I wouldn’t even be able to look them in the eye. And can you imagine knowing when and how your life would end…and knowing it wouldn’t be remotely quick or painless? What if you knew exactly who would betray you, knew that the people who were excited to see you one week would be jeering at your misery the next? I would be so fixated on my death that I wouldn’t be able to live.
And yet Jesus lived, and he endured.
JESUS EMBODIED PRUDENCE
His Caution
Caution is another characteristic that seems strange when applied to Jesus, but I believe it’s true. Jesus showed prudence in the form of caution because he didn’t allow himself to be crucified until the exact moment that God had planned, even though there were many people who made it their goal to find a reason to kill Jesus. On one occasion when he provoked them with his teachings, a crowd of angry religious leaders managed to push Jesus all the way from the temple to the edge of a cliff in order to throw him over the edge. But the Bible casually says that when they got there, Jesus “passed through their midst” and went to another town instead. Now that’s some supernatural caution.
Jesus did many, many miracles right out in the open where everyone could see them. But from time to time, he healed someone behind the scenes, cautioning them not to spread the word. His motive seemed to be a desire to keep his ministry going until the very moment it was completed. He chose to be cautious at all the right times.
His Reason
Luke 2 records only one story of Jesus as a child, and it is an amazing display of his profound reasoning even at the age of twelve. After the Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus’ parents headed home with a caravan of other people, thinking Jesus was with the group. But when they realized their mistake and found him three days later, they saw that he had been in the temple the whole time—you know, just discussing theology with the teachers and priests. And he wasn’t just asking questions; he was answering them too. It says that everyone who heard him was shocked at his understanding. The story concludes by saying that Jesus continued to grow in wisdom.
And grow he did! Throughout his entire ministry, no one could outwit him although it was the express purpose of the religious crowd to trap him in his reasoning. Whenever they asked him a trick question in order to arrest and destroy him, he countered it with an answer they weren’t expecting or, better yet, with another question. It isn’t that Jesus shunned genuine questions, because he welcomed them. He simply didn’t have time for those with ulterior motives. He used his reasoning to instruct those who were seeking wisdom, and that offer still stands today.
To Be Continued
I had really hoped to wrap up this wonderful series today, but I found that there was just too much to say about Jesus as hero. What a shock! So I’ll be completing this post next week as we look together at Jesus’ display of loyalty and generosity. Be sure to check it out so we can celebrate together this wonderful Hero of heaven!
Check out the next post here!
Old English Heroism: Generosity
A family donates money to a worthy charity. People give to the Salvation Army at Christmas. A child gives his fruit snacks to his friend. We all know generosity when we see it, but have you ever stopped to consider that it’s actually a heroic quality? Let me show you what I mean.
I consulted my pal Merriam-Webster and found that generosity is “the quality…of being generous.” Shocking. (Doesn’t that kind of definition remind you of those people who say, “I don’t know. Can you go to the bathroom? Or did you mean, ‘May I go to the bathroom?’”) At any rate, I looked up “generous” just to get to the bottom of the issue, and that was much more helpful; someone who’s generous is “liberal in giving” and is “characterized by a noble or kindly spirit.” (There, now. Was that so hard?)
In light of those definitions, let’s see how Robin Hood and Superman are openhanded and selfless heroes.
ROBIN HOOD
Openhanded with the Poor
We all know that Robin Hood is a pretty openhanded guy. After all, his motto is, “Take from the rich and give to the poor.” He doesn’t relieve the rich of their wealth for his own benefit—or at least not exclusively for his own benefit. Instead, he passes on the bounty. In one of the old Middle English ballads, Robin and his men meet a forlorn knight ambling through the forest. The knight tells them that he’s lost almost all his money in an attempt to help his son. After they’ve checked his wallet to make sure he’s telling the truth, Robin invites him to stay for a feast and gives him all the money he needs.
But even though he willingly gives to the needy, he often takes from the undeserving, too. Later on in the same ballad, a dishonest monk passes by. He tells Robin that he doesn’t have much money, but when they check his purse, they find quite a bit! Robin has no qualms about taking this money and giving half of it to the poor knight when they see him again later. Robin also takes what isn’t his when he goes hunting, since the king had claimed all the deer in the forest as his own property. However, Robin hunted freely in order to feed himself, his men, and their friends. So whether he’s stealing or hunting, Robin does so with an open heart and an open hand.
Selfless with his Safety
When you think of being selfless, Robin Hood may not be the first example to pop into your mind. That’s probably because we often associate selflessness with a grave, pious attitude, and Robin Hood is far from this. But I think he’s selfless nonetheless because he sacrifices his safety to challenge the powers that be in defense of the defenseless. And he does it with a smile. Some of the Middle English ballads and the old Disney cartoon seem to capture this impishness best. Although I’ve only seen bits and pieces of Men in Tights (don’t be angry!), it seems they really capitalized on the lightheartedness of the Robin Hood story too. In fact, it looks like it could have been a sequel to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. But I digress.
Robin Hood is an example of selflessness because his endeavors to help the poor always involve risking his own safety. Whenever he robs from the rich, whether by stealth or by force, he puts his life on the line. He is at risk with the commoners because of the price on his head, and he is hunted and hated by his dual nemeses: Sir Guy of Gisborne and the Sheriff of Nottingham. But despite these dangers, he always manages to take what he needs and then make a brilliant escape.
He also puts his life on the line when he goes hunting. That’s right—shooting a deer was a capital offense. I’ve already mentioned that the king had claimed all the deer as his own property, but this meant that taking one for yourself was considered treason and would earn you a date with the hangman. But of course Robin never ends up filling a noose for his infractions. Instead, he is able to live a long and happy life as a generous outlaw.
SUPERMAN
A Noble Spirit
Again, I don’t know if the word “generous” is very often associated with Superman, but maybe it should be. See, while Superman doesn’t walk around distributing money or donating to charities, he still models a generous heart in the sense of a “noble or kindly spirit.” He anonymously saves those who are in danger, not looking for any recognition as Clark Kent but hiding behind his spandex and hair gel instead.
For example, in the movie Man of Steel, the nosy reporter, Lois Lane, is determined to discover and expose his identity in her newspaper column. Superman could have accepted the offer of fame and recognition, but instead he trusts his father’s advice to remain unknown. He knows that his best chance at helping people is to lead two lives, even though it costs him many relationships. Thankfully, Lois comes to understand his reasoning and chooses to fall in love with him rather than expose his story. What a gal.
Sometimes, however, being noble isn’t black and white. At the end of the film, Superman is forced to choose between sparing General Zod—one of the last remaining Kryptonians—and saving a family of tourists that Zod is about to destroy. The tension is palpable as Superman wrestles with the choice, feeling it to be a catch-22. In the end, his choice breaks his heart, but he felt it to be the right one. The noble choice isn’t always easy.
A Selfless Hero
Also in the movie Man of Steel, Superman shows a pattern of self-sacrifice at the expense of his own comfort and security. It all begins in junior high when he saves a bus full of students from drowning, even though it would reveal his powers to anyone watching. The choice is costly, but that doesn’t stop him then or later. When he’s an adult, Clark hears that a group of oil rig workers is going to die unless he intervenes. However, helping them means revealing his current alias and having to leave town…again. He makes his choice faster than a speeding bullet, saving the lives of the workers at the expense of his own livelihood.
These little choices and small sacrifices mold his character into one of consistent selflessness so that when greater battles arise, he is ready to face them like a man (or an alien, I guess). And the climax of the movie, he takes a superhuman amount of pummeling to save the people of earth, never worrying about the cost to himself (or the city’s architecture). And even though he does it to protect them, they all turn on him in the very next movie. Hey, no one said it was easy to be generous.
The Takeaway
If you’ve been tracking with me through this series, you’ve seen how the Old English heroic traits of fortitude, prudence, loyalty, and generosity aren’t just outdated concepts; they’re just as common in modern heroes as in ancient ones. It’s almost like they’re timeless. Next week in our final post of the series, we’ll see just why that is. Don’t miss it!
Check out the next post here!
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