I Need a Hero!

      My life has been altered for the better because of the men in my life. In a world where men are so often viewed as the cruel perpetrators of so many harms against women – just watch the news or read your history books – I’m blessed to see things from a completely different angle. I’m a woman who knows she is deeply loved and cared for, with a husband who has learned and has taught his sons to treat women with great respect. Doors fling open ahead of me, my trunk often gets magically emptied of the groceries I’ve just purchased, and on many nights I collapse in a heap while father and son work side-by-side cleaning the kitchen for me. Let me be clear on one thing – I am NOT the “Queen of Sheba,” and I’m really not a complete “Prima Dona” or ‘diva’! I’ve never been afraid of hard work. I’m simply blessed with a husband who has learned from the Word and from examples of other godly men how to love well.

      This leads up to the movie that stirred me to start writing all of this in the first place: Braveheart.  My son, Caleb, and I both needed to crash at the end of a long day (week/season!), and he asked if I would like to have popcorn and watch a movie. Generally, I might use the opportunity to fold laundry or get on Facebook or find something else to do while ‘relaxing’ together (I’m rather fidgety, and not one to sit still for long!). But this time, he had asked to watch a movie that I knew to be an intense one. I told him to make sure his dad was ok with him seeing it, and after securing Dad’s permission, we flopped into our chairs and let it roll. As the movie began, and a young William Wallace witnessed a very bloody scene with numerous dead bodies hanging from the rafters, I wondered if we had gotten into something a bit too intense for a thirteen year old. I looked to Caleb, thought otherwise, and so we continued. Then the story took us through the loss of Wallace’s dad... and through his secret marriage (Time to cover the eyes with the big popcorn bowl!)... And then - the catalyst for the war he would fight for the rest of his life - the attempted rape and then murdering of his wife. By now, my blood is boiling and tears are flowing. I couldn’t see my son’s eyes for my own blubbering! At this point, and at several more to come, he asked me if watching this was too much for ME, and seemed to think it odd that I like “guy” movies.

      We were shocked to find that it was already 7:15pm, and our movie was still going as Jeff arrived home from work. Thankfully, I had dinner mostly ready, and we paused for an intermission. I told Jeff that the movie reenacted Peter Cetera’s song, “I am a man who will fight for your honor, I’ll be the hero that you’ve been dreaming of...” Ahh.... “The Power of Love”...  It’s the thing that wins ANY woman’s heart, isn’t it? 

      Back to our comfy chairs for one last hour of violence -bloody scenes of war between the Brits and the Scotts... A pretty intense way to end a day! You know, Jeff recently asked what my favorite movies are, thinking I was going to say, “Chick flicks in general.” That might have been my answer 20-30 years ago. But I told him that as odd as it seems, I truly LOVE “guy” movies with heroes! And Braveheart most definitely fits that bill! This guy is every bit the man’s man, fearlessly leading others to end the pillaging and plundering and raping that had wounded their land for way too long. And he’s a woman’s man, driven to continue in his battle for the love of a woman, and desiring to make his country a land of safety for the generations to come. 

      As our movie ended, once my tears had subsided, I looked up at Caleb and said, “Son, you know... One day the King of Kings is gonna come back and right every wrong. And it won’t be pretty. I, for one, sure wouldn’t want to be opposing Him.” No more words after this. Bedtime. And I would have to set my mind away from such stirring thoughts or I’d NEVER get any sleep! But I woke up early this morning unable to dismiss my thoughts from the movie. I considered what I’d said to Caleb. I also thought of current events – of beheadings of Christians around the world for refusing to deny their faith. Then I got stuck on the story I’d read of a woman who many probably haven’t heard of – Perpetua, a young wealthy married woman who had, not long before her ‘incident’, given birth to a child. Her dramatic story of public martyrdom for her faith will forever stand before me as one of many reminders of just what it is to unyieldingly live out your convictions (Read Chapter 1 of Gary Thomas’ book The Beautiful Fight for a stirring rendition of this story). And like Perpetua, I boldly state, “I cannot be called anything else than what I am, which is a Christian.”

      1 Corinthians 15:3-8 serves as a clue as to why Perpetua and so many others have refused to deny Christ: ^“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” This is penned by one who was a well-known hero among Jewish people, a Pharisee of Pharisees who seemed to thirst for the deaths of blasphemous ‘infidels’ who would tarnish their religion. And this writer, Paul, would later be numbered with the eyewitnesses of Christ’s resurrection who were glad to die for the testimony that He still lives. Now, I’m one who can be quite stubborn... just ask family and friends who have known me well for years! And I can truly make a fool of myself if I think I’m right. But ask me to undergo torture that ends in death for something I know is wrong, and I’m no fool. And I’m betting you’re not either. 

      So, back to my love of heroes... ^“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:11-16). This King calls me His bride (Isaiah 62:5, Revelation 21:2), and His death was not in vain – it brings life, healing, renewal... “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy” (Isaiah 55:1-2)? Drink deeply, friends!