Were you more compliant or strong-willed as a child? How are your children like you? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1254).
Last
night Kunte and I saw a premiere of the new Superman movie, “Man of
Steel”. The movie made some strong parallels between Jesus and
Superman: for example, both were saviors of the world, both were in
some sense alien as compared to regular men, both had to suffer, and
both despite their efforts to accomplish good for mankind and be
man’s best friend were roundly distrusted and even thought by some
to be dangerous enemies. If you were to ask regarding Jesus and
Superman whether they were compliant or strong-willed, I think for
both you would have to answer both. They were compliant in their
sensitivity and even tentativeness—in their profound humility; yet
none had stronger wills than they when it came to doing their
fathers’ will. Both could stand and stand with great resolve
despite the dangers presented in the midst of conflict. What I am
saying in the end is that compliance and being strong-willed are not
mutually exclusive. A compliance born even from the Beatitudes can
stand up under immense pressures with triangular integrity. And
fortunately for the welfare of mankind, most everyone can identify in
their heart of hearts with this sometimes poignant paradox of love.
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