3 minute read
The Birthplace of Heroes and Villains
Gò0dNews for Everyone
The Birthplace of Heroes and Villains
Advertisement
by Matthew Dennis
Every hero and villain are born at the same place in their lives. Both, like the rest of humanity, are in as much control of the circumstances in their lives as a fly’s ability to cast Mars into another galaxy. Every hero and villain’s story begins with a rejection, a betrayal, a loss, a setback, or a traumatic event. At this point, both make a choice. The villain holds on to his anger, refusing to forgive. In seeking to destroy the monsters that caused his suffering, he becomes the monster he swore to fight against. On the other hand, the hero has accepted his suffering and turned it into power. The hero’s very existence is a living testament against the villain’s absolute sense of “justice.” Therefore, in the eyes of the villain, the hero must be eradicated because the hero stands in the way of the villain’s plan to make all pay for the injustice he has suffered.
In contrast, rather than taking out his pain on the rest of humanity, the hero sees his own brokenness in the rest of humanity, as well as in the villain. He is determined to make sure that no one is ever treated with such cruelty as he has been. It is humility that guards the door of the heart and keeps evil at bay. This is why it is common to see the hero surrounded by community to remind the hero of who they are, lest they lose themselves. Villains isolate themselves lest anyone see the darkness within. For the greatest battle we face in the fight against evil is not out there, but within our own hearts.
It is no mistake that superhero movies and stories are all the rage in our culture. They speak to a truth that is deep within each of our souls. Jesus Himself faced His suffering head on and embraced the cross for our sake. Through Him, we have access to a power that takes our suffering and turns it into a force for good. We forgive those who have hurt us, because we have also been forgiven of much. Scripture gives us the key to guarding our hearts from taking the path of the villain. Hebrews 12:12-15 tell us, “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
I’m not the first to say this, but I believe forgiveness is more for the healing of the victim than the perpetrator. No villain or hero is born overnight. Rather, they are created in the small every day choices of how they face their suffering. You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond. When tragedy strikes, who will you choose to be?
About The Author Matthew Dennis is currently teaching high school Bible at Maryville Christian School. He is passionate about developing leaders and equipping the next generation to engage with modern day philosophies and culture. Matthew also writes on his own blog, “Gifts from the Desert,” at giftsfromthedesert.blog. He uses this blog to help people grapple with the reality of suffering, how to embrace it, and transform it into a source of hope, healing, and strength.
