What’s your role in the story?
The villain harms someone, but it’s never his fault. He refuses to take responsibility, so he re-casts himself as a victim. We’re asked to feel sorry for this villain-turned-victim.
Most of us would have a difficult time casting ourselves in the traditional, idealized role of hero. But in a great story, and in life, a hero isn’t the perfect knight in shining armor. Authentic heroes are deeply flawed characters, and they often hurt people. In a really good story the hero may hurt more people than the villain.
In the end, though, the hero takes responsibility and refuses to play victim.
You and I play central roles in our own story. We’re the authors. We get to decide how we’ll respond when we inevitably hurt someone else. Deflect and play victim, or step up and accept responsibility?
Hero or villain or victim, oh my!
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a reminder of the magnitude of this horrible ongoing injustice. You and I have the opportunity to choose a role in the story.
A big part of the FREEDOM TOUR is a chance to choose to be a hero. Not the big-white-cowboy-hat perfect kind of hero, but the real-life kind of hero who steps up and accepts responsibility for our imperfect part in a story bigger than ourselves.
Villains propagate injustice. Victims cower in helplessness, and hopelessness, and fear.
We cycle to bring hope and freedom to kids rescued from human trafficking.
Heroes step forward, however imperfectly. It’s not about the injustice…it’s about the incredible inspirational power of hope.
Let’s be heroes.