Battle Defenses

In the end, the Spartan’s true strength is the warrior next to him.  So give respect and honor to him, and it will be returned to you.
     from the movie, 300

How sad and tragic it is –  it breaks our hearts, in fact — to know that there are people all around us, who are living in isolation and loneliness,  and who are carrying their frailties alone.

This morning, we were reminded of a scene in the movie 300. The movie’s plot revolves around the true story of King Leonidas, who in 480 B.C. E., in the  Battle of Thermopylae, leads 300 Spartans against the Persian “god-King” Xerxes and his army of more than 1 million soldiers. 

The Spartans eventually win the battle because of their unique and innovative military tactic of lining all of their soldiers and positioning their shields and swords in a way that the enemy could not break through their defenses.  They understood that there was a genuine need for one another.  So much so, that if one of them were to have broken their line of defense, it would have proven disasterous, most assuredly causing them to lose their battle and all their lives. 

We live in a society in which we just do not open up and share with one another as we really need to.  We hold back and hold in our needs and fears in ways that ultimately are destructive and sometimes disasterous to our lives and well-being. 

Why do we do that?  Here are a few reasons why:

1. Culturally (especially males) we have been taught to go internal with our problems.  We elevate “pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps”, “rugged individualism”, “stiff upper lips” and “stoicism” far too much.
2. It’s what’s been modeled for us; when we don’t see others before and around us opening up we tend not to either.
3. We have this mentality that letting others in to see our vulnerabiliies is a sign of weakness.
4. It’s out of fear of judgement, that others will mock us, condemn us, and put up walls  – so we put them up too.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.  We can protest this mindset which says, “I can do this on my own — showing  emotion is a sign of weakness.”  When we can begin to understand that expressing emotion, fear, failings and frustrations are not signs of weakness, but are in fact, great signs of strength, then we are able to conquer whatever life throws our way.  For if we hold everything in and we bottle up all our struggles our defenses are shattered. 

Earlier this week we sat with a couple who are living with a very challenging, life-threatening, life-alteriing situation.  It’s very frightening for them, especially as they are living far from their family and friends as they seek treatment.   It’s lonely being separated from everyone and everything that is part of their everyday lives.  It’s lonely being out on an island by themselves, which only makes matters worse and more difficult.  They desperately needed to talk, to share, to unload so much about what they are experiencing.  It’s a battle.  Like the ancient Spartans they need one another to create  a stronghold for their battle.  And the like the Sparttans they need others who can stand with them, beside them and for them in their defenses.  They – as all of us would be – will be destroyed without the stronghold of others who can stand with them -putting on the armor and raising up their swords and shields together.

Our hope is that we can go into your battles with you, lining up with you – side-by-side – helping be your defense.