Why we always need heroes

When things go wrong, we want heroes to save us. However, we need heroes anyway. We need examples to emulate, people who are greater than we ever hoped to be, living role models who lift us up simply by existing. Heroes provide hope, inspiration, power, excitement, and yearning for greater things. I'm talking about true heroes, who live their lives with passion and purpose, not the fake sort forced upon us by spiteful people. We need heroes to press us forward, guide us, and make us see a better future. Real heroes do all these things.

We don't have to be Superman to be heroes
Superman by Alex Ross

For some reason, our culture loves deconstructing heroes and either destroying or making them worthless. Sure, people are flawed, make mistakes, and generally louse things up. Heroes aren't perfect, and if they were they would be impossible to imitate. It's okay to want to be like them. Battlefield heroes inspire courage, workplace heroes encourage diligence. Heroes are found in every area of life, and I submit they are needed there just as much.

I think we have taken the danger of hero-worship too far. Sure, It's not good to idolize anyone to the point of ridiculousness, but if we only strive to destroy any great example then we lose the value of powerful role models. In an age of no heroes, there is no hope and anyone who tries is torn to ragged bits. Then, we run the risk of passing into the anti-hero, who does all kinds of mischief and does good only as an idle after thought.

We need heroes in our lives. We need to celebrate heroes. We need to once again place heroes in places of honor. And, not just military heroes, but all walks of life. I'd like to nominate my dad as my lifelong hero. Who's yours?

- M

Words of Power

One of the reasons I originally became fascinated with language is the capacity to bring hope and comfort to those hurting. Stories are especially potent in this regard, because we insert ourselves into the characters and live out their adventures. Sure, I was with Bilbo when he found the One Ring in The Hobbit, and I scurried with Frodo and Sam in the Lord of the Rings. I haven't found any other medium with such power and majesty, and I doubt I ever will. There's something very special about living through a good story; the characters become part of our lives.

A well crafted story is capable of developing truly astonishing levels of emotion in the audience. Whatever the genre, stories burrow into the heart and draw forth the power of our feelings. But, it's not just the language doing it, there is the journey to take into account. Truthfully, if there is no journey, there's no emotion. If you were told the ending, without everything before it, the story would fall on its face and bear no power at all. We all require a process of growing to reach maturity, so should it be any different with a story?

The power of words is undeniable. The right words, at the right time and place, can change the universe. I my estimation, language is the greatest power of humankind. With it, we build cities, form societies, and develop future generations. Words are the future, the past, and the present. The old phrase of, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never harm me," is true only in the sense that words don't physically injure. However, words have massive impact on our spirit. Use them with care.

- M

Endless patience

Have you ever watched a cat stalk something? The pure patience of cats, in this regard, is impressive. They sit perfectly still (aside from a twitching tail) and track their victim with their eyes. Slowly, they move into position, glide forward when unobserved, wait and watch. Then, their muscles coil, their body bunches, eyes widen and breathing slows. The moment of attack is unexpected, sudden, and often successful. Being on the wrong end of such activity is unnerving, to say the least.


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This is a visual example of patience. We all have the capacity to wait, but many of us have a hard time doing it. It's likely because when we sit still, we feel the lack of movement in a psychological way. We get jittery, restless, and want to fill the silence with any sort of noise. I've read that if people are subjected to a pure white room, with zero noise at all, they go absolutely nutty. However, you can learn to be patient, and it's a skill well worth developing. Take a pause, catch your breath, and simply let the world whirl past. After a while, you'll find it refreshing to step away from the chaos of modern life.

Isn't it strange how when people actively escape the frenzy of activity, they are considered hermits, or worse? Sure, it's unusual, but why such animosity against people who only want a slower paced life? I don't know the answer to that. What I do know, is we live life at far too great a pace. There's plenty of reason to slow down and enjoy life for what it is. Not everything should be done in a hurry. My wife's father was the greatest example of patience I've ever witnessed, and he remains an inspiration to me to this day.

So, take the time to let the threads of life out of your grasp for a while. Bask in the silence. Pay attention to the world around you. You don't need to be a hunter to have patience, just the willingness. Maybe the results will surprise you, frustrate you, or encourage you. Patience is a worthy skill to develop.

- M

Timeless beauty.

Standards of beauty are fickle, right? Fashion trends change practically daily, and we are told, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." That's all correct. But, it's also totally wrong. There is timeless beauty around us daily: flowers, sunsets, sunrises, clouds, birds, the geometry of nautilus shells, the pattern of planets around the sun, musical wind, thunderstorms, rain, fresh air. In the eye of the beholder? Who can find fault in the glory of warm sunlight on the skin? That's timeless beauty, and all we need to do is pay attention. Isn't that incredible?



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Why do we value beauty so much? Aside from being pleasant to look at, is there any other reason? Advertisers spend billions on models who strut around wearing products. Movies, generally speaking, feature attractive actors playing the parts. Smiling beauties sell more stuff than frowning ordinary people. There's something in our brains that responds favorably to beauty with an endorphin surge. There's quite literally a physical reaction to beauty. You see this in various ways: pupils dilating, posture straightening, smiles, and a whole host of other responses. Have you ever bent over to smell the flowers? That's a positive response.

And, yet, we go around scoring beauty wherever we find it. Flowers aren't colorful enough, the babbling brook isn't quite the right sound, our hair isn't curly or is too curly, the sunset is too red. Actually, I bet we complain about nearly every aspect of beauty, while simultaneously being jealous of it at the same time. We battle this impulse by acknowledging timeless beauty, that never changes and is always gorgeous. And, there's beauty in actions as well: the warm hugs of family, a champion's graciousness to those behind, the helping hands of rescuers, and the strong shoulders of comforters. When you discover timeless beauty, spend a few moments to cherish the experience. It's well worth the effort and time.

- M

Forgiveness and renewal, two very important themes.

One reason why stories are created, is to form the framework of forgiveness. A surprising number of tragic stories are made primarily to spread forgiveness and to renew faith in humanity. Of course, it doesn't take tragedy to grant forgiveness, as many other kinds of stories prove, yet the device is well suited to bring catharsis to the audience (that is, to set free the pent up emotions and provide relief). Scary stories do this in a way, but it's the deep and haunting tales that grip your heart that provide the best return.

Many people find forgiveness very hard to secure. Whether it be forgiving themselves, or others, people like to hold grudges. Stories can teach how to forgive, why to forgive, and when to forgive. It's safe to say that even grudging forgiveness is better than allowing pain and hurt to fester inside. Look at the tale of "Hamlet" by Shakespeare, and we find a family incapable of forgiving anyone, and it leads to the doom of them all. What a powerful example! More recently, look at the musical fiction "The Greatest Showman," and the amount of forgiveness and renewal on constant display is breathtaking. I especially love how his wife and family renew the main character's passion for life by their forgiveness. It's inspiring.

Why do stories tackle such heavy and powerful themes? Well, why not? Stories are part of our human nature, so authors pour themselves into creating them. It's natural to talk about anything important to us. Also, stories provide a safe way to learn and express ideas. We get to experience situations unknown to us, and see how people might behave. When we watch other people forgive and experience renewal, it's easier for us to do the same. I love reading books where the main character is shattered personally, and then later is renewed to life. Stories aren't merely entertainment, but powerful platforms for teaching.

- M

The Karate Kid 2, a movie about much more than fighting.

One of my very favorite movies is "The Karate Kid 2." It follows the adventures of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. Unlike many sequels, you don't need to have seen the first. Actually, it may be better to see the movies in reverse order, because "The Karate Kid 2" is the story of Mr. Miyagi. The history of this martial arts teacher is profound, deep, and resonates so well that I'd wish I had known more about him in the first movie. Sure, in the first he's a mysterious presence, but understanding who and what he is would have made the relationship between master and student far more complex and believable.

Generally speaking, the second movie is considered better than the first. Why is that? It's very simple, it's because the audience already understands the world and the players and the motivations. So, we hit the ground running and are able to quickly get into more substantial plots. Think of the widely believed best Star Wars movie, "The Empire Strikes Back." There is no setup of characters, no setup of what's going on, just an immediate danger and the beginning of Luke Skywalker's Jedi training. The movie starts with the story already progressing at a fast clip. That's taking full advantage of the history of the first film and efficiently adding to it.

Back to "The Karate Kid 2," the best part of the story is how seriously the events and cultures are treated. Mr. Miyagi's father dies at the start, and there is reverence throughout. Okinawan culture is shown with no hint of comedic wit, but instead with dignity and understanding. This film seems much more real than the first, with real problems and real heroics. Yes, having the Karate Kid win battles is basically the task of both movies, but in the sequel he earns the victory. You see him struggle and overcome, but not just him. You see, Mr. Miyagi grows too. There are huge character arcs for all the main people.

There's a test I have done with many books over the years. I flip to the last page and read the last few paragraphs. I'm looking to be surprised and to wonder how the characters got to that point. If I'm not surprised, then I know the characters don't change much. "The Karate Kid 2" passes with bright colors. It's not only a fun movie, but a good movie that teaches as well as entertains. There are lessons in compassion, forgiveness, loss, honor, revenge, love, patience, and never backing down. Sure, it's not literary artwork, but the movie has a lot to offer. Check it out.

- M