Be You, Be A Hero

             Hero

Okay, so here's the deal.  Insights and messages can come from the most surprising of places, in the most unusual ways.  It's up to us to maintain an openness and willingness to receive without judgment.  That's the situation I found myself in, when contemplating the recent circumstances surrounding the state of our union, in all its variety of facets, when the above song, Hero, by Mariah Carey popped into my head.  It's a song I used to listen to in my young impressionable naive-minded youth, back in the far away past of the nineteen nineties.  Remember back then?

So, as many of my contemporaries, I was mourning the concession of Senator Bernie Sanders and the devastation that may follow in that wake for my country and the world.  Who will lead us? Who will be our revolutionary, our guide? Why didn't he stay? When will be his chance?  As I sunk deeper into these trail of thought, I began to examine the notion of a hero and, to be exact,a revolutionary.  

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

If you do a google search on the word, "hero", the first definition is: a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.  

But, what in fact does it mean to be a hero? More to the point, what makes a hero a reality in our eyes? We idolize someone like Bernie, or another political or public figure, for the attributes they seem to manifest outward, without truly knowing who they are inwardly.  What if we stopped, looked inward and found those attributes within?  What then? Why must it be someone else's responsibility to be our hero?  (I am speaking to myself more than anyone else.)

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

But then again, I ask myself at times, why me? (And, also, why  you?)  Why must I stand up to the injustices of both my personal world and the larger reality? Why must I combat the negative toxicity that threatens to disable myself and those I love, even at the risk of losing those I love as a consequence for my boldness?  

It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And that emptiness you felt
Will disappear

There is one reason that I can ascertain to inspire myself and others to live boldly and truthfully to attain their highest potential selves.  And that would be simply, its a better way.  See, taking the time, effort, and hard work to 'clean your own house' and do the adequate self care and healing is necessary for you to enact positive change for all of life, both for ourselves, those we love, and the planet.   So, after we find that peace and continue to work towards our wholeness, what then? How does this become true social and dynamic change?

For my part, it begins with allowing myself to be present and listen in order to be led towards the right decision, guided along the path towards the highest good for all.  It can be as minute as smiling at someone on the street and saying "hello", sending gifts and letters to remind them that they are loved just because, planting a garden with the express purpose of loving Mother Earth back to life and to provide sustenance for yourself and loved ones, or even greater tasks such as becoming and remaining an informed voter, being politically and socially active based on your convictions (YOURS, don't be manipulated), donate in whatever fashion of your choosing, and stay as active as possible in healthy relationships.  Above all, continue that self-care, deciding every day to love yourself and recognize that this is not merely selfish but selfless.  Being able to be fully in love with yourself allows the full healthy mindset and peace to enact change that all of us desire, regardless of the religious or political belief structure.

There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

On that note, I gotta talk about Jesus now.  If this is somewhat of a sensitive subject, for whatever the reason, you have been warned.  But, I am not addressing Jesus Christ or the biblical scriptures I share based on my past fundamental beliefs, so let that put your mind at ease.  I'm not going to try to convert you to drinking the Kool-Aid and numbing yourself to the distraction of organized religion.  (No, I'll just try to appease your fears with a Nineties Pop Song....Just Kidding!)  But, here's the thing, as I dwell deeper into my Wiccan roots (from my pre-fundie life) and also into a deeper healing, I have come to recognize and appreciate Jesus and the teachings I once read in the Bible.  This is surprising to me, yes, but also a sense of comfort.  I recognize the truths from the scriptures and that they are not singular to the Christian religion.  There are lots of different types of followers of Jesus, lots of folks who think He is 'da shit', so define wisely.  (However, if I ever slip back into the fundamentalist life-style, you all have my express permission to shoot me.)  So, that said, let's talk about Jesus, shall we? Most significantly, as a revolutionary type of guy.  

In my past studies, I came across Acts 5:33-39 which says: 

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

So, for starters, do I think Jesus is the Messiah come to save us and escort us into eternal life of harps and clouds? Not necessary nor am I sure, but I do think he represents a type of hero archetype that is present even in our lives today.  And, I feel that there have been similar hero archetypes both on a religious and political level down through history and will continue onward.  I mean, in our times, we can look at individuals such as Martin Luther King, Jr, Elizabeth Warren, and of course, the aforementioned Bernie Sanders as this archetype.  (Yeah, okay, I know that my representatives seem a little left skewed so if this doesn't fit your ideal, *insert your hero archetype here*.)   I chose these three because they represent a key ingredient here, all were passionate to enact the sort of change that would make the world a better place and the lives of the citizens better, but all were vilified in some fashion or another (some worse than other: Here's looking at you, MLK, Jr).  And, what indeed occurred as a result of the vilification?  We still remember as a nation, world, and true change has occurred and is happening even now.  

Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away, hey yeah
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time you'll find the way

Bernie conceded, he stepped down, and in a very real sense, he sacrificed himself and with that the movement of revolution, begun not by him but others before him, that he carries forward, can continue.  And, continue it will, not merely by him with his loyal followers, but by you, by me, by us standing strong together in our own individual whole selves determined to bring light and love to a very ill world.  Looking towards a leader, someone that inspires you, that you see as a hero, is not necessarily a bad thing, but do not let that weaken your own influence.  Be true to yourself, your convictions, and move forward your own hero for the world.  And, please do not let this boldness disempower another whose views may differ, but be ever willing to sit down face to face at the table, listen, find shared commonality, and healing for all.  

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you

So  now, after you have read my words, I invite you to take a few minutes and really listen to this pop song, Hero, in light of what I have written.  Your views may differ but I believe your passion is similar in desiring the positive, healthy world for ourselves and for loved ones.  And, be a hero and remember, you don't necessarily need a cape to do it, only if you want too.  

Hey, hey, you like what you read and have some thoughts, comment below.  Not like what you read, but you still want to express yourself, comment below.  

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