I Need A Hero – In Control

by | Mar 18, 2010 | Fiction Book Reviews | 6 comments

Julie Lessman, author of The Daughters of Boston series, and the up-and-coming Winds of Change Series, is a big fan (and writer) of fabulous heroes. To whet your appetite about her books, check out her website at www.julielessman.com.

It’s no surprise then that her three top attributes exemplify many of the heroes in her books.

Here are her top 3 Hero Characteristics:

1.) Strong (physically and eventually spiritually)

2.) No-nonsense

3.) In control
Today I want to focus on the Hero quality of ‘In Control”
 
What does that mean?
Is the heroes life ever out of control? Sure it is. But what makes him a hero is how he responds when his life is out of control. Do Julie’s heroes always have things under control? Nope – you should just see what happens to poor Brady in A Passion Denied. Goodness. I just want to slap and hug the guy at the same time.
Heroes don’t always have it together, they’re not alway in control, but the meaning of this is that they come around to it. They don’t GIVE UP. They wade through their fears, disappointments, heartbreak, and find a way back to the person they love.
I thought I’d use the character of Frank Hopkins played by Viggio Mortensen in the movie Hildago. If you haven’t seen this movie, and you can handle a movie with lots of adventure but very little romance, then check it out. This is a great movie to show lots of strong hero traits, and actually Frank has all the qualities Julie mentions.
But one of his best traits is in ‘in control’ attitude, his mind over the circumstances.
Keeping his cool
.
Sure he’s strong – both inside and out
No Nonsense – definitely. With his life on the line, there’s not a lot of time to fool around. He doesn’t start the movie off that way, but by the end – he’s straightened up.
And then “In Control” – another area in which he grows throughout the movie. Instead of waiting for external circumstances to move him or ignoring his drive to prove himself, he overcomes his fears (which he hides behind indifference) and takes his horse to race across the Sahara Desert.
Ultimate Hero Note:
 
Jesus is the perfect example of being in control. Not even the storm could rock the waves at his command. In grief or in righteous anger, he kept himself, his desires, controlled.  Even in death, Jesus kept control. His final words were “Into thy hands I commit my spirit.” He chose his last breath.
What does this teach us as his children?
That even if life is out of control, God is in control. We are safe within His love. The greater the storm, the greater his grace and strength. We can sleep in the storm, just like Jesus, if we realize nothing is too BIG for our God to control.
Hero Quote:
 
“The cowards think of what they can lose, the heroes of what they can win.”
— J. M. Charlier
Inspirational Quote:
13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. 14So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can.

I Cornithians 10:13-15

6 Comments

  1. Julie

    Oh, Pepper, what a GREAT blog!!! I have not seen “Hidalgo,” but I guess I’m going to have to, aren’t I???

    And what a great segue to Jesus Christ as the ultimate “Hero in control”!!

    LOVE the quotes, both literary and biblical!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

    Reply
    • pepperbasham

      Thanks, Jules.
      Great movie, great character, and wonderful Savior.! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Casey

    I agree Pepper about Brady- the most agravating and endearing hero! Hidalgo is an awesome movie! The kind where everytime you see it, you sit on the edge of your seat, unsure if he will win. 🙂 Great post BTW.

    Reply
    • pepperbasham

      Casey,
      Definitely a worthwhile movie 🙂 And a very clean movie. We watched it with our older kids.

      And Brady – dear me, Lizzie’s right. STUBBORN!!

      Reply
  3. cate tuten

    Pepper, I love this!! You have such a way of presenting Christ! Thank you for sharing this, and as we approach Easter and the Cross, we are reminded of His Heroic act, all done in the name of love. So, as much fun as it is to love and linger over our fictional hero’s, they can all point us back to Him, the true hero of all time!!……(I left you a note about my favorite fictional hero in your last post)….Blessings, Cate

    Reply
  4. pepperbasham

    Amen, Cate.
    You are SO right. And I’m looking forward to getting the book you recommended. It sounds intriguing.
    Praise God for the ultimate hero in Jesus Christ. Our Rescuer!

    Reply

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