In the often neglected poem of Judges 5, we learn the secret of ordinary people becoming heroes through trusting in God's promises. In crisis God raised up leaders. All he asked others to do was to show up. They had no standing army or arsenal of weapons. Just grab what is handy and report for duty. Gideon's men grabbed trumpets, Jael, a tent peg, Samson, a jawbone, Shamgar, an oxgoad. And the women on white donkeys took hold of a song.
The folklore of jack slaying a giant, the myth of Theseus slaying the minotaur are all wonderful things. Yet are not the tales of Loki and his antics, of Zeus and his favouritism also true myths?
Beowulf is as valid as jack.
From, gods to demi-gods, to monsters and mundane, all are a joy to hear, all have endured the test of time.
People love to hear of mighty Hercules, gifted at birth as much as they do the humble everyman having a battle of wits with a dragon.
As wonderful it is for David to slay Goliath, that was directed by divine hand. Not by his own might alone was giant slain. Jack is a better example for that.
Superman was loved once upon a time not because of some idea of relatability, but because he was an morale uplifting ideal! A literal superman, not only in power, but morals. Attempts to make him more human and 'flawed' tanked his appeal.
We need not see ourselves in the humble everyman or the demi-gods, we can see beyond ourselves.
Among the greatest virtues of stories is to allow us to experience the impossible!
In closing marvel currently sucks because the men aren't super, often aren't manly and frequently aren't even present. Neither Jack nor Beowulf, but the sad scrawlings of a mind that can't escape a Californian coffee shop and gay bar.
Interesting! I would say of course they are myths and good myths at that. Hero stories have their own appeal. I would say that we can't relate to them in the same way as to Frodo Baggins. They are "less true" because a giant cannot become a man, and a man can become a giant. That's why (possibly) Christ took the form of a man - to show us how to become giants from within.
Yet, though He was fully man, He was fully divine, and instead of death taking Him, He broke death, and ransomed us all. He told us to take up our cross and follow, but to be Christlike is not to be Him.
So, it was a tale of man, but a tale of God.
We shall certainly not do such deeds.
We need not become giants, for He has already become greater than giants...
But to return to the fictional, away from the real stories of divine mighty...
Must we relate?
Certainly a character divine or mundane must make sense, to think as a man does or how we would imagine a divine is...
None of us are hobbits?
I confess in childhood or in later age, I've never understood this focus on 'relatablity'.
To read a story isn't to reflect self on the story, to use one's being as a measuring stick. It is to enter another world, to abandon self even, to follow a strange humanoid called a hobbit, or a little old lady who just can't help but encounter murders, or a spy mired in plot and counter-plot.
Is it so strange to enjoy these things without relation to self?
Love this essay, and love underdogs it is why I always loved stories about heroes such as Frodo and Sam. I'd argue even Conan and Aragorn are underdogs when one posits them against Saruman/Sauron/Xaltotun. We have to either cower or rise to the occasion.
In the often neglected poem of Judges 5, we learn the secret of ordinary people becoming heroes through trusting in God's promises. In crisis God raised up leaders. All he asked others to do was to show up. They had no standing army or arsenal of weapons. Just grab what is handy and report for duty. Gideon's men grabbed trumpets, Jael, a tent peg, Samson, a jawbone, Shamgar, an oxgoad. And the women on white donkeys took hold of a song.
Amen, "For the Lord and for Gideon!" 📯🗡️
Yes, amazing!
The folklore of jack slaying a giant, the myth of Theseus slaying the minotaur are all wonderful things. Yet are not the tales of Loki and his antics, of Zeus and his favouritism also true myths?
Beowulf is as valid as jack.
From, gods to demi-gods, to monsters and mundane, all are a joy to hear, all have endured the test of time.
People love to hear of mighty Hercules, gifted at birth as much as they do the humble everyman having a battle of wits with a dragon.
As wonderful it is for David to slay Goliath, that was directed by divine hand. Not by his own might alone was giant slain. Jack is a better example for that.
Superman was loved once upon a time not because of some idea of relatability, but because he was an morale uplifting ideal! A literal superman, not only in power, but morals. Attempts to make him more human and 'flawed' tanked his appeal.
We need not see ourselves in the humble everyman or the demi-gods, we can see beyond ourselves.
Among the greatest virtues of stories is to allow us to experience the impossible!
In closing marvel currently sucks because the men aren't super, often aren't manly and frequently aren't even present. Neither Jack nor Beowulf, but the sad scrawlings of a mind that can't escape a Californian coffee shop and gay bar.
Interesting! I would say of course they are myths and good myths at that. Hero stories have their own appeal. I would say that we can't relate to them in the same way as to Frodo Baggins. They are "less true" because a giant cannot become a man, and a man can become a giant. That's why (possibly) Christ took the form of a man - to show us how to become giants from within.
Yet, though He was fully man, He was fully divine, and instead of death taking Him, He broke death, and ransomed us all. He told us to take up our cross and follow, but to be Christlike is not to be Him.
So, it was a tale of man, but a tale of God.
We shall certainly not do such deeds.
We need not become giants, for He has already become greater than giants...
But to return to the fictional, away from the real stories of divine mighty...
Must we relate?
Certainly a character divine or mundane must make sense, to think as a man does or how we would imagine a divine is...
None of us are hobbits?
I confess in childhood or in later age, I've never understood this focus on 'relatablity'.
To read a story isn't to reflect self on the story, to use one's being as a measuring stick. It is to enter another world, to abandon self even, to follow a strange humanoid called a hobbit, or a little old lady who just can't help but encounter murders, or a spy mired in plot and counter-plot.
Is it so strange to enjoy these things without relation to self?
Love this essay, and love underdogs it is why I always loved stories about heroes such as Frodo and Sam. I'd argue even Conan and Aragorn are underdogs when one posits them against Saruman/Sauron/Xaltotun. We have to either cower or rise to the occasion.
Yes, very much so!
Very good essay, might have to include it in the Warrior Wednesday event this week, might help others with their writing.
Sure!
Another awesome read, Eugene. Keep it up!
Thanks, Brian!
⛲ Σοφία Χάρης Αγάπη Δόξα! ❇️ ☦️🔥🌬️
Saturday of All Departed Souls, Eve of Great and Holy Pentecost, 2024 Anno Domini 🕊️✍🏼⛰️🗡️🌦️🐎
🎣⚓⛵🛟 Fishers of Men, in the struggle among giants. The True Myth during Interesting times 🤔, Semper Fortis! ☀️🌙✨🌊🌳🌐⏰❤️🔥