You're Epic..Really!

Blogging: dumping the contents of my brain, and guts, onto paper, then sorting through the mess in order to find something worthy of showcasing: last night’s supper, my dog’s skin condition, my friend’s obsession with frogs. These are all in there but hardly worth framing and hanging on my online wall.

Pushing aside the above mentioned debris, I dig deeper; spotting a little tidbit that has had me inspired for nearly a week now. It’s the words from a simple little book that seem to have awakened my soul to the expectation of something more…something real and permanent. This is why I love words, and books, and people, because you never know when you’re going to stumble upon a treasure excavated from the heart of a fellow sojourner.
This something that I found is still vague, in that I have mostly given mental assent to it, and haven’t practiced it for long, but I like how it feels. It fits. It’s epic. No really, that’s the name of the little book. Epic, by: John Elderedge. Drawing from such classics as the Last of The Mohicans, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and Gladiator, Mr. Elderedge explains how our lives are an epic tale much like the afore mentioned movies.

From cradle to grave our lives are rocked with unexpected events where we must push against insurmountable odds to survive and succeed. Comedy and tragedy, good and evil, heroes and villains, all are randomly peppered into our lives while we struggle to love, and live with bravery, compassion, and dignity. Of course not everyone struggles to behave in a noble way; some actually enjoy causing misery and pain to others. I guess these would be the villains.
Our lives are the epic tales in which we have found ourselves. Like the great Gladiator, Maximus, we stand in the arena of life fighting against all that seeks to slay our spirits, hearts, and finally, our bodies. It's easy for me to visualize the stands, packed with cheering pilgrims who have gone on before us, chanting encouragement and channeling might.
Viewing my life as such has ignited a bit of bravery in this overly anxious suburbanite, causing me to confront the smaller battles in my life with boldness and wisdom, and helping me to mentally prepare myself for the larger attacks from the evil villains that await me. I want to beat the odds, stay true to myself, while offering kindness and compassion to others. And then, when I close my eyes to this arena, I intend to open them to my true homeland on the other side; a land where my epic continues, only the villains will be silenced and living happily ever after is my reward.