Because everyone loves a good story
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!
Old English Heroism: Loyalty
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a superhero as a friend? I mean, it’s like having a “get out of jail free” card. Every time you got yourself into a bind or found yourself in danger, you could count on your friend to come zooming in and divert the bullet, snatch you from the burning building, or catch you before you splatted on the sidewalk. Why? Because he or she would be loyal to you.
Loyalty Defined
Loyalty, in the words of my good friend Merriam-Webster, includes being “faithful to a private person to whom faithfulness is due.” Heroes protect their friends. Heroes also protect the innocent, the downtrodden, and sundry other miserable wretches. If they neglected these people, they would lack loyalty and would therefore negate their heroism.
I think the word “loyalty” also implies a faithfulness to one’s duty. Often the hero is the only one with the skill set, strength, or qualifications to defend the innocent, and he feels duty-bound to act on their behalf. Although we won’t be discussing him much this week, Superman is a great example of this. While he could have walked away and let humanity fend for itself, he chose to protect those who didn’t even appreciate him. That’s why I believe a hero has a duty to be loyal not only to others but to who he is as well. To neglect to act heroically is to deny his core identity.
So let’s look at how loyalty can be found in the stories of Beowulf and Harry Potter!
Beowulf and the King
You may remember this from two weeks ago, but Beowulf was an Old English warrior with the strength of thirty men. We know that he killed the monster Grendel but not because it was a menace to his town; he killed it because it was terrorizing someone else’s town. In that regard, Beowulf was loyal to Hrothgar, king of the Danes, even though it wasn’t his sovereign.
See, Beowulf’s father had known Hrothgar many years before, but since Beowulf lived across the sea, he was in no way obligated to serve that king. Hrothgar was a worthy monarch, though, and everyone who served him loved him. So when Beowulf heard of Hrothgar’s plight, Beowulf came to his aid.
He was loyal to Hrothgar not only because of the friendship his father had with the king but also because of his duty to help those who couldn’t help themselves. Because of his strength, Beowulf was the only man able to fight the beast with any hope. Remember, the monster Grendel couldn’t be wounded by any weapon, so strength alone was needed to challenge him. Knowing this, Beowulf sailed to Hrothgar’s halls to fight the monster.
Beowulf and His Men
He was also faithful to his men. He chose fourteen of the keenest warriors to sail and fight with him, and they went willingly. That’s a crazy commitment considering that none of them had the strength of thirty men. The poem says that when they lay down to sleep in Hrothgar’s hall that night, none of them expected to see the morning. They had followed their brave captain into the lion’s den, and they were ready to die with him. What a loyal captain to inspire such devotion!
He proved his loyalty within the hour. Just after they fell asleep, Grendel crept into the hall and gobbled up a warrior, and so the fight was on. In the midst of the monster’s attack, Beowulf didn’t run away but ran to Grendel and took the full force of his wrath. He fought and protected not only Hrothgar’s people but his own men as well. His loyalty to his duty and his men inspired their loyalty to him.
Harry Potter and His Friends
Now, it’s kind of a mental shift to go from Beowulf to Harry Potter, but bear with me here. They both showed loyalty in their own ways. While Harry didn’t have superhuman strength or a band of fourteen warriors to back him up, he did have two good friends and the determination to fight evil. He shows his loyalty first of all to his friends…most of the time. We often see him sticking up for Hermione when she’s under criticism for being a muggle. He comes to Ron’s aid when he’s made fun of for being less than wealthy. He even crosses Draco Malfoy to defend poor Neville Longbottom. Like any high school student, he was occasionally swept up in waves of drama (misunderstandings, rumors, jealousy, etc.), but once he got over those, he remained loyal to his friends.
Harry Potter and Everyone Else
But more important than defending his friends from mockery, Harry was also determined to defend everyone from destruction. This ranged from despised individuals to beloved groups. Far from being his friend, Draco Malfoy was the embodiment of the “old blood” magic that scorned any pandering to muggles. But despite Draco’s antagonism, Harry still chose to save him from death by fire in the room of requirement. Harry also knew that what set him apart as the Boy Who Lived was also what slated him to be the boy who dies. When the time came for him to sacrifice himself for the good of his school and the world, he knew what he had to do. Harry’s loyalty protected those he loved, but it also served to protect him in the end.
Loyal to the End
Everyone knows that a true hero has to be loyal to his friends and his duty. But in my opinion, it’s one of the most admirable traits because it’s an internal compulsion more than a choice. A hero may struggle with the ramifications of sacrificing himself for the good of others, but in the end he will choose to act. That loyalty is more impressive than mere strength of body because it’s strength of character.
Want to know about the last trait of an Old English hero? Tune in next week to find out!
Check out the next post here!
Old English Heroism: Prudence
What do Robin Hood and Harry Potter have in common? Prudence!
No, that’s not some weird academic joke. It’s a real (albeit nerdy) idea that I want to prove in today’s post. If you missed last week’s post about the characteristics of the Old English hero and the trait of fortitude, feel free to check that out too!
What Do You Mean, “Prudence”?
So what is prudence? It sounds like something a very smug, puritanical person would strive to display, but it’s more than that. To help us understand it better, let’s ask Merriam-Webster. The first definition says it’s “the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.” The fourth says it’s “caution or circumspection as to danger or risk.” Basically, it’s reason and caution. But what makes those qualities heroic?
Prudence is a vital quality for a hero because it provides a balance to fortitude. See, if a hero were to avail himself of every opportunity to display physical strength, he probably wouldn’t last very long. He would dive headlong into a fight without pausing to consider strategy, diplomacy, or even evasion, like the orcs in Sauron’s tower of Mordor. But if all the hero had was prudence without fortitude, he would be a coward, skulking and conniving like Grima Wormtongue in the courts of Theoden. But when he balances strength with caution, the hero looks more like Aragorn on Weathertop, fending off the Nazgul with fire rather than swords. And while I’d love to discuss Aragorn, I’m going to look at two other examples instead, so let’s dive in!
Robin Hood’s History
I won’t even discuss whether or not the Robin Hood legend is based off of a real person. Like the debate about King Arthur, you’ll find people all across the “real vs fictional” spectrum. It’s enough to know that the first mention of Robin Hood seems to be in Piers Plowman way back in 1377, and his popularity has only grown from there. His stories are most often set during the reign of either Richard the Lionhearted (late 1100’s) or Edward II (early 1300’s). But no matter what time period he shows up in, he’s always fulfilling a similar role: that of the outlaw and hero.
So what makes Robin a good example of prudence? Good question. Robin Hood is physically fit and, what’s more, is supremely skillful with a bow and arrow. He also has a whole band of merry men who will come running at the toot of his horn. But he doesn’t often rely on these physical advantages when it comes to fending off bad guys and defending good guys. Instead, he uses his noggin. That’s right, Robin Hood stories often include the use of disguises, trickery, and general sneakiness. It’s no coincidence that Disney uses a fox to portray Robin in the old cartoon movie; that Robin is a sly guy.
Robin Hood’s Prudence
The earliest stories of Robin Hood were actually ballads—rhyming poems either recited or sung as entertainment in the dark ages before Netflix. Robin and his men were often shown outwitting corrupt monks, crooked politicians, and of course the Sheriff of Nottingham. Actually, Robin’s a bit more violent in some of the early ballads. Later versions tone him down so we don’t see him, say, chopping off the sheriff’s head. But more often he and Little John employed deception rather than violence to, uh, bend the law in their favor.
We see several glimpses of this cleverness in the old Disney movie as Robin dresses in various disguises. He fools everyone at the archery tournament by dressing like a stork and casually hitting one bullseye after the other. He pretends to be a blind beggar and flatters the sheriff into sharing information. He even dresses as an old fortune teller and robs Prince John of his gold and jewels. And yes, he does engage in a few good ol’ fashioned brawls, but those are usually after his tricks have run out.
Robin, the Vigilante?
Now, you might be (and probably should be) wondering if Robin Hood is a better example of a vigilante than a true hero. My honest answer is maybe. While he does display the heroic traits of fortitude, prudence, loyalty, and generosity, he also displays the elfin traits of mischief and evasion. He reminds me of Peter Pan in that regard—impish and resourceful but a bit of a loose cannon. But the fact that he does possess the four Old English virtues shows me that our conception of the hero had evolved but a little in the three-hundred-plus years since Beowulf. Now let’s take a look at a contemporary hero to see how prudence is displayed in the life of Harry Potter.
Harry Potter, the Sidekick?
Now, Harry Potter may not look like an Old English hero at first. Those broken glasses, those hand-me-down clothes of Dudley’s, and that hesitant attitude make him seem more like the wimpy sidekick than the hero of a story. And that, I believe, is the point. See, the other heroes in my examples were born heroes (more or less), but Harry had heroism thrust upon him. But that gives hope to the rest of us that if, for example, we’ve been stuffed in a broom cupboard under the stairs for most of our lives—metaphorically speaking—there is still a chance that our Hogwarts letter is in the mail. And that’s just the kind of pep talk today’s youngsters thrive on. Thanks, Disney.
“Well, if you think Harry’s such a hero,” you say, “then prove it.” I’ll try. You’ll notice I didn’t use him as an example of strength. He does grow in physical strength (and all the other heroic qualities) as the series progresses, but strength is not his selling point. Instead, he is a better example of prudence. Rather than using his muscles, he uses his resources—especially his friends. He and his two pals are no match for the Dark Lord physically, but with their combined abilities, they are able to outwit him time and time again. Actually, let’s be real: Hermione is kind of the real hero. But since she probably wouldn’t have taken on Voldemort without the Boy Who Lived, we’ll give Harry the credit. (Typical.)
Harry Potter’s Prudence
To list just a few examples of Harry’s prudence, consider the time the trio used their wits to protect the Sorcerer’s Stone. Of course, they thought they were protecting it from Snape, but hey. It was Book 1. Give them a break. They also used a special tool and their logic to save Sirius Black from paying for another man’s crimes. They even saved Buckbeak the hippogriff while they were at it! Harry killed a basilisk and saved Ginny Weasley, he cracked the clues (with help) to win the Triwizard Tournament (kind of), he passed on his knowledge and experience to others in Dumbledore’s Army, and he ultimately used the what he knew about the Deathly Hallows to defeat You Know Who. While he was a skillful wizard, he most often relied on his resources and his friends to triumph. Now that’s pretty heroic.
The Takeaway
While today’s idea of a hero tends to be more focused on strength, prudence is still a major factor. Knowing when to act is important, but knowing when not to act is vital. That’s so catchy I think I’ll go put it on a school poster. See you next week!
Check out the next post here!
Sources:
Robin Hood history: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Robin-Hood/
More Robin Hood history: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Robin-Hood
Old English Heroism: Fortitude
As you may know, I used to teach British Literature in my former life. I taught that class so many times that its ideas and stories are deeply ingrained in my mind even now. And I love it. (Nerds of the world, unite!) For example, I was thinking about the four characteristics of the Old English hero as they relate to Beowulf, Robin Hood, Superman, and Harry Potter. Curious? Skeptical? Read on!
English Back in the Day
The literature book opened with a unit on the Old English period. Like, the Ooold English period. If you think Shakespeare sounds old school in the early 1600’s, wait till you see what English was like in the late 900’s:
Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Those are the opening lines of the epic poem Beowulf. Their modern English translation (complements of Frances B. Grummere) reads:
Lo, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
What’s the Plan?
If you’re tempted to stop reading this article now, just hang in there! I won’t be quoting from the Old English anymore, I promise. I just wanted to give you a little historical perspective so that the foundation of this series is thoroughly laid. See, I’d like to write a series of articles about the characteristics of an Old English hero. Given how much the language has changed, you’d think the description of a hero would have changed too, right? But I’d like to prove that a true hero has looked the same for over 1000 years and will continue to do so.
How can I be so sure of that? Because I don’t think the characteristics are based on a passing cultural fad or a literary character. Instead, I believe they’re intrinsic to human nature, having been written on our hearts since creation. That’s why my last article will be about Jesus as the ultimate “hero.” (Don’t worry; I hope to make the article less corny than that sentence sounds.) So, without further ado, let’s look at the characteristics of fortitude, prudence, loyalty, and generosity as they relate to Beowulf, Robin Hood, Superman, and Harry Potter.
What Do You Mean, “Fortitude”?
While not completely obsolete, “fortitude” is a word we don’t use very often these days. But if it’s important enough to be one of the four heroic virtues, then we’d better figure out what it means. Merriam-Webster defines it as “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.” It also mentions that the outdated meaning was physical strength. So for our purposes, I’ll describe fortitude as physical and mental strength and endurance.
For example, you need speed in order to run a sprint, but you don’t really need fortitude, do you? The race will be over in a matter of seconds. But if you’re signing up for a marathon, a triathlon, or an Iron Man competition, you’d better have some fortitude, and how! Physical and mental strength are an absolute must. You’ll need a body that won’t keel over after 25 miles, but you’ll also need a mind that can tell your body to keep going when it feels like keeling over. Personally, I have neither of these characteristics, but you know who does? Beowulf and Superman.
Beowulf’s Buffness
I don’t know if you’re very familiar with the poem Beowulf, but the title character is a pretty strong dude. He is described as having the strength of 30 men, and he proves this over and over throughout the story. The first time we see him engage in fisticuffs, he has chosen to take on the monster, Grendel. Grendel is not just any monster; he is a terror who lives in the marshes and has made a habit of slaying and eating the king’s most valiant warriors as they sleep in the mead hall. Oh, and he is impervious to any weapon. No wonder people have stopped hanging out in the king’s mead hall.
But not Beowulf. He and his band of men feast in the hall and then settle down for a little nap until the monster arrives, which he does before long. One warrior loses his head (figuratively) and tries to attack Grendel with a weapon. He then loses his head (literally) and is summarily gobbled up. Grendel thinks he’s in for another feast of Warrior McNuggets until Beowulf attacks. From the first moment Beowulf grips the monster, Grendel knows he’s done for. Beowulf continues to fight until he wrenches the monster’s arm out of its socket. Like, he rips the whole arm off. Grendel limps home to die in his marsh den. And so falls Grendel.
But this is just one example of the pattern of behavior that Beowulf lives by: physically strong and mentally determined. He later goes on to kill Grendel’s mother (!), many sea beasts, and a dragon. By the time he sustained a mortal wound from his battle with the dragon, he had already lived a long and mighty life. Undoubtedly, Beowulf was a specimen of fortitude.
Superman’s Strength
Regarding the strength of Superman, I doubt that I need to provide many examples. I mean, we’re all more familiar with Superman than with Beowulf, right? (Ok, to be perfectly honest, I’m more familiar with Beowulf, but that’s because there is so much Superman literature out there! I did ask my comic geek husband for help though.) As a comic book hero, Superman has been around since 1938 and has continued to be embellished and enjoyed right up to the present. But guys, have you read the old comics? Or even the recent ones, for that matter? They are SO extreme about his strength. In the comics he moves the earth, sun, and other planets; sneezes a solar system out of existence; bench presses the Earth’s weight for 5 days straight using only reserve strength; and punches space and time itself. Beowulf would be jealous.
In the most recent movie series, he shows physical strength as well. He lifts a whole bus full of children out of a lake while he’s still a child himself. He flies and fights bad guys. He is very, very strong. We know. But he also shows fortitude by refusing to take revenge when he certainly could have. When a man in a bar tosses beer in Clark Kent’s face and even throws the can against the back of his head, Clark doesn’t crush his ribs or knock him senseless. I mean, he does skewer the guy’s semi on a load of timber logs, but it could have been much worse, right? Sometimes strength is displayed by having the endurance to refrain from using it. Superman is a great example of this.
What’s Next?
So we’ve looked at one trait and two heroes. What’s next? More of the same! We’ll continue to look at one trait and two heroes for the next few weeks, starting with Robin Hood and Harry Potter as examples of prudence.
In the meantime, what about you? Can you think of a hero who displays fortitude? If so, leave it in the comments below!
Check out the next post here!
Sources:
Old English Beowulf: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43521/beowulf-old-english-version
Modern English Beowulf: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50114/beowulf-modern-english-translation
Superman article: https://www.quora.com/DC-Comics-What-are-some-of-Supermans-greatest-feats-achievements
Other Superman article: https://www.cbr.com/superman-overpowered-feats-of-strength/
A.W. Tozer and “The Sacrament of Living”
A few weeks ago we took a look at a fantastic little tool: the book of liturgical prayers called Every Moment Holy, by Doug McKelvey. The premise of his book, as far as I know, is the belief that it’s not just the big, religious events in life that warrant a spiritual response; rather, every mundane, prosaic moment can be consecrated as holy to God if we set our hearts in that direction.
Recently I was reading the final chapter of A.W. Tozer’s gem of a book, The Pursuit of God. It was so related to that previous post that I couldn’t resist writing about it here. Today I hope to talk about the often-overlooked truth that every aspect of our lives—from Sunday morning’s worship service to Thursday night’s bedtime routine—can be an equally-pleasing gift to God. In Tozer’s down-to-earth style, he helps clarify why and how this can be. Let’s check it out together!
A False Antithesis
Tozer begins the final chapter of his book with this statement: “One of the greatest hindrances to internal peace which the Christian encounters is the common habit of dividing our lives into two areas, the sacred and the secular” (117). And isn’t this the truth? Many of us were probably raised with this assumption either explicitly or implicitly undergirding our lives. It seemed that some activities were holier and more sacred than others. Going to church is sacred. Going to school is secular. Praying is holy. Playing is worldly. Serving in a soup kitchen is spiritual. Serving dinner to our families is a necessary evil.
This belief can lead to tension. “We go about our common tasks with a feeling of deep frustration, telling ourselves pensively that there’s a better day coming when we shall slough off this earthly shell and be bothered no more with the affairs of this world” (118-119). The older and more responsible I get, the more I wrestle with this feeling of frustration he mentions. Why, I lament, is so much of my precious time filled with such non-spiritual, non-important tasks? If I’m an eternal soul supposed to make an eternal difference, then why is 90% of my day consumed by menial tasks like buying groceries, caring for an infant, washing laundry, caring for an infant, making food, and caring for an infant? (I’m sure you see a common theme here.) Is this really what God intended for me? Surely not!
But Tozer protests, saying that “the sacred-secular antithesis has no foundation in the New Testament….The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our perfect example, and He knew no divided life….God accepted the offering of His total life, and made no distinction between act and act” (119). Yes, I argue, but surely Jesus used His time better than I did. I mean, when’s the last time I performed a miracle (excluding the decent lunch I conjured out of random leftovers, which I believe really was akin to the loaves and fish)?
The Sacred Reality
But God leaves us not only the example of Christ—which really does count, despite His divinity—but He also gives us a direct command to honor Him in every single thing that we do. “Paul’s exhortation to ‘do all to the glory of God’ is more than pious idealism….Lest we should be too timid to include everything, Paul mentions specifically eating and drinking….If these lowly animal acts can be so performed as to honor God, then it becomes difficult to conceive of one that cannot” (120).
So God really does intend for our entire lives to be sacred. What a relief, and what a challenge! It’s a relief to know that He didn’t intend for us to live like monks or ascetics, hiding away in solitary prayer lest we accidentally think a non-eternal thought. He intended for us to live normal lives with eternity in mind. Of course, some will make greater use of their time and talents, but all believers can do all to the glory of God if they let the Spirit enable them. But therein lies the challenge.
Yes, But How?
Assuming we accept as possible this command to live all of life as a sacrament, our next question should be, “How on earth do I do that?” Tozer answers that knowing the truth is not enough. Rather, we apply it “by meditation upon this truth, by talking it over with God often in our prayers, by recalling it to our minds frequently as we move about among men” (122). It is a constant realignment of our minds and hearts.
But our old thought patterns will continually resurface, and Satan will do his best to distract us from this sacred mindset. We can continue to live in this reality “only by the exercise of an aggressive faith. We must offer all our acts to God and believe that He accepts them. Then hold firmly to that position and keep insisting that every act of every hour of the day and night be included in the transaction” (123). Will it be easy or instant? Definitely not. But is it possible? Without a doubt. Let me share with you the example of a man I know.
Full-Time Ministry in a Factory
In certain circles, it’s normal to refer to a pastor or missionary as being in “full-time ministry,” while a factory job is considered “secular.” I understand what they’re getting at, but I think this terminology is part of our problem. As Tozer reminds us, “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it” (127).
For example, I know a man whose factory job was his full-time ministry. He started his day by spending time reading the Bible, writing down a verse or two on a little index card to carry in his pocket during the day so he wouldn’t forget. He used his commute to pray for people and to meditate on the verses he read that morning. He used many of his interactions at work to encourage and pray for people. He spent some of his lunch breaks having Bible studies with a handful of interested guys. He was asked to come to co-workers houses in order to pray for their sick family members. When he came to retirement age, he told me, “I know I could be done here already, but I’m having too much fun!”
In Conclusion
He may sound like an unapproachable, pious person, but he’s not at all! He’s just a regular guy who takes seriously God’s command to do all for His glory. I didn’t mention his name so that I don’t embarrass him (he wouldn’t want the attention anyway), but I’ll bet you know people who fit this description as well.
However, if you’re anything like me, that example may seem a little daunting. After all, I feel pretty accomplished when I remember to pray over my lunch or to be thankful for a small blessing that God gives me during the day. How in the world am I supposed to get to a point where my whole day is lived for God’s glory? With repentance when I fail and rededication when I remember. After all, “Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act….For such a man, living itself will be sacramental and the whole world a sanctuary” (127). It’s a high and lofty goal, but with God’s help, it’s worth pursuing.
Source: Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God. Mansfield Centre: Martino Publishing, 2009.
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