The Need for Heroes
Yes, it is harder to have heroes as we grow older. We hear, read, and see things we are (thankfully) sheltered from in childhood. And we are hurt. And then we get a little bit harder.
Of course no human is perfect. No human comes through every time. But this is how we define "hero" when we are children...sort of a mix between Superman and God.
We discover one day that heroes are human. And in this inevitable loss of innocence, we tend to turn toward doubt. And here lies the problem. In our anger, our disappointment, our disillusionment, we accept the notion that one cannot have heroes. It's protective, usually, and not even a fully conscious choice...but we don't want to feel let down again, betrayed. And many of us never turn back.
Yet we must have heroes, and not just as children. It's necessary. Necessary? Like water and oxygen are necessary to sustain life? No. But necessary in order to sustain emotional and spiritual growth. We will always need examples, inspirations, models, for how to live. We need to see the Good (even if it is not presented in its wholeness) if we are to combat the crushing, dehumanizing, killing effect of doubt.
If we are to develop as human beings, we cannot let doubt reign in our hearts. It feeds selfishness, and fear, and cynicism. It's the psychological equivalent of a black hole.
Most heroes will have a particular gift or two that they live out with great brilliance; the virtue of love, or generosity, or creativity, or perseverance. And their light will inspire others to be more, and do more. And the world becomes a little brighter. These people are not perfect, but that's not what heroes are.
We can be well-grounded in reality and still celebrate the ideal when we see it. Hero-worship must pass with the naivete of childhood, but emulation of those who live out particular virtues in heroic ways cannot, must not.
The world needs more hope, and less despair, more faith and less fear. Find what you admire, what you want to become, what is truly beautiful and good. And then see that these qualities reside
in human beings.
Celebrate the heroic, re-consider having a hero or two, and maybe choose to become one yourself!
www.stillpointfamilyresources.org
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Yes, it is harder to have heroes as we grow older. We hear, read, and see things we are (thankfully) sheltered from in childhood. And we are hurt. And then we get a little bit harder.
Of course no human is perfect. No human comes through every time. But this is how we define "hero" when we are children...sort of a mix between Superman and God.
We discover one day that heroes are human. And in this inevitable loss of innocence, we tend to turn toward doubt. And here lies the problem. In our anger, our disappointment, our disillusionment, we accept the notion that one cannot have heroes. It's protective, usually, and not even a fully conscious choice...but we don't want to feel let down again, betrayed. And many of us never turn back.
Yet we must have heroes, and not just as children. It's necessary. Necessary? Like water and oxygen are necessary to sustain life? No. But necessary in order to sustain emotional and spiritual growth. We will always need examples, inspirations, models, for how to live. We need to see the Good (even if it is not presented in its wholeness) if we are to combat the crushing, dehumanizing, killing effect of doubt.
If we are to develop as human beings, we cannot let doubt reign in our hearts. It feeds selfishness, and fear, and cynicism. It's the psychological equivalent of a black hole.
Most heroes will have a particular gift or two that they live out with great brilliance; the virtue of love, or generosity, or creativity, or perseverance. And their light will inspire others to be more, and do more. And the world becomes a little brighter. These people are not perfect, but that's not what heroes are.
We can be well-grounded in reality and still celebrate the ideal when we see it. Hero-worship must pass with the naivete of childhood, but emulation of those who live out particular virtues in heroic ways cannot, must not.
The world needs more hope, and less despair, more faith and less fear. Find what you admire, what you want to become, what is truly beautiful and good. And then see that these qualities reside
in human beings.
Celebrate the heroic, re-consider having a hero or two, and maybe choose to become one yourself!
www.stillpointfamilyresources.org
View Portfolio