Five Minute Friday - Brave

"How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all peoples,

the myths about dragons that at the last moment are turned into princesses?

Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses

who are only waiting to see us,

once, beautiful and brave.

Perhaps everything terrible is, in its deepest being, something helpless that wants help from us.

So you must not be frightened…"

- Ranier Marie Rilke

Screen Shot from 1980s TV series, Beauty and the Beast,
starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman.

I date myself when I confess that for a season, in my much younger days, this was my favorite TV show. I was so enamored with the show that I actually purchased a cassette tape featuring Ron Perlman (as Vincent... the Beast) reciting poetry while the program's soundtrack played. It wasn't long before those words, the lines above, they were seared into my soul... they still come  oft' to mind and perhaps, in some small sense, form a part of the anthem of this life I've been given.

So many qualify brave as about self... a choosing to set aside my own fear to do something remarkable and courageous, often wonderful and serving; it's a deliberate disregard of all the best reasons why not to stand on the single reason to say... or shout... or even faintly whisper... "Yes..."

Tempting, to let brave become all about me instead of all about others. After all, who doesn't desire to be seen "beautiful and brave?" Does that desire sully the splendor? Cower the courage?

Perhaps. For all in this imperfect world is dulled by the tarnish of sin.

As such, so would be all bravery... except that of the man who sweat tears, agonized in prayer, struggled to say, "Yes..." without any delusions of grandeur of "beautiful and brave," but rather real knowledge of ultimate cost...

He thrice whispered, "Not my will, but Thine..." 

He was brave.

I ask Him to share His bravery with me... strength and courage to extend a hand, a heart, not to just the perceived princesses in this life, but also to the dreaded dragons, for the sake of another.

"...simply fixing our gaze upon Jesus, our Prince Leader in the faith, who will also award us the prize. He, for the sake of the joy which lay before Him, patiently endured the cross, looking with contempt upon its shame, and afterwards seated Himself-- where He still sits--at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 2.2, Weymouth New Testament)

If you want to join us this week, head on over to Lisa Jo's. 

She explains it all there.