The Hero's Offer of Mercy

(this does contain spoilers regarding the new Wonder Woman movie)

I saw the new Wonder Woman movie. I seriously want to learn some of the stunts Gal Gadot or her stunt double does in the movie and though I never thought I would cosplay a super hero. I kind of want the armor, shield, sword and lasso. There was so much that I liked about the character of Diana Prince, her compassion for others, her sense of honor, and her humility in her wisdom. She was not a know-it-all nor did she put down her counterpart for his lack of wisdom. She constantly called those around her to step-up and be accounted for what is right.

Like all heros she has an epic battle scene, but before the battle begins she is offered a choice to help destroy mankind, which is pitiful and wicked OR offer mankind mercy and assist people by calling them to be better. Wonder Woman chooses to offer mankind mercy and demonstrates this choice by not killing the woman that invented poisonous gases intended to destroy many human lives.

Super Heros are not the only ones that point out that we should offer mercy to our enemies first. St. Joan of Arc offers to the English soldiers stationed in the city of Orleans an invitation of mercy...

”You Englishmen, who have no right in this Kingdom of France, the King of Heaven sends you word and warning, by me Jehanne the Maid, to abandon your forts and depart into your own country, or I will raise such a war-cry against you as shall be remembered forever. And this I write to you for the third and last time, nor shall I write further.” (Letter dated May 5, 1429)

The English ignored the invitation and replied with insults and mockery. Joan and the French soldiers attacked the English and drove them out of the city of Orleans.

William Shakespeare pens probably the greatest speech on mercy in The Merchant of Venice and gives it to his heroine Portia, who delivers it disguised as a lawyer in the famous trial scene where Mercy and Justice are being weighed.

“The quality of mercy is not strain'd;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown,

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this scepter'd sway,-

It is enthroned in the heart of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,

Though justice be thy plea consider this-

That in the course of justice none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice

Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant

there.”

The hero and the saint offer mercy because it is an extension of the mercy that has been given to ALL of us by God. God constantly gives us a second chance, offers us mercy and loves us in spite of us being despicable, wicked creatures.  It is up to each of us to choose to accept the invitation of God's mercy and love.  It is also up to each of us to offer mercy to others even though we might wish for strict, uncompromising justice.  I wish to be a Hero and accept the hand of mercy instead of being a prisoner in the Hall of Justice.

The Need For Epic Soundtracks

Cue the Epic Soundtrack!

I love soundtracks to movies! I remember when the trailer for the first installment of The Hobbit came out. After the dwarves had sung Misty Mountain and then the title of The Hobbit appeared, I turned to my husband said “Even if the movie is lousy I want the soundtrack.” Every time I drive through twisty turning roads, hills or even mountains and especially if a trace of fog is upon them, I hum the Misty Mountain song. At that moment I need an epic soundtrack to capture the moment.

Misty Mountain in West Virginia

I also love to fight to epic soundtracks. I own my own stage combat group, Swords and Roses®, and I teach stage combat. Sometimes to spice up a well-known bit of choreography or to remind the fighters of the mood of the fight I will add some soundtrack for fighting. Suddenly, postures improves, energy ensues, and a well known fight becomes interesting to watch.

Why do I love to put soundtracks in moments of my life? I think it is to pull me out of the ordinary and let my imagination make it extrordinary. I think I am looking for something bigger than myself and the soundtrack makes my seeking...my quest...an epic adventure.

The Girl in Armor

It is known among my friends and even acquaintances that I am such a Star Wars Fan Girl that when big Star Wars news breaks, I get texts, messages and emails about it. That could not be more true than when news broke on December 27, 2016 that Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia of Star Wars) has passed away. Princess Leia was an amazing role model for so many girls that were growing up at the same time I was. I have no idea how many girls dressed up like Princess Leia for Halloween of 1977, but I am certain there were a few. And though Princess Leia did impress me as a little girl, I was already following the footsteps of another princess.

One of my earliest memories as a girl was watching the animated movie of The Lord of the Rings. Whatever station was airing it stretched the movie out to last at least 2 evenings maybe even 4. I was entranced with the storyline of Frodo the Hobbit on his quest to rid the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. What hooked me even more so was the character of Eowyn. The Princess of the Rohan people, who disguises herself as a knight so that she can fight for her people and be with the man she loved. After viewing the movie to its conclusion, I would re-enact one scene over and over again. It is the scene where the The Witch King is on its flying beast and it is getting ready to finish Theodon. A knight (Eowyn in disguise) steps in front of Theodon to protect him. The Witch King lets out a hideous, screeching laugh and says “Thou fool does thou not know the prophecy no living man may hinder me.” Eowyn steps forward sword in hand and says “No man am I.” She pulls off her helmet revealing her golden hair which falls down her back “I am a woman. I am Eowyn. Theodon's neice.” 

The Confrontation of Evil

 Eowyn destroys the Witch King and in the animated version (spoiler alert) Eowyn marries Aragorn the man she loves. Imagine a six year old girl wearing a pot on her head (if my mother didn't catch me), armed with a stick and her saucer sled facing her hill that looked like a mountain and pretending it was a the nightmarish Witch King. It must have been an entertaining sight for the neighbors.

I grew up with that image. Anytime I would face what I considered a major menace in my life, I would picture myself as Eowyn in battle armor. Witch King, Nazguls and Orcs beware.

When I read the books in middle school and reached the end of Return of the King, I had the surprise of my life when (spoiler alert) Eowyn does not end up with Aragorn. I actually threw the book against the wall. “What on earth was wrong with this Tolkien guy?!” I forgot about it and read it again as a young adult and had the same reaction. The animated series had made such a strong impression on me that I would completely forget that little detail until it was thrown at me again. It is here that I need to apologize to those of you that were in the audience when I viewed Peter Jackson's movie version of The Return of the King and it is quite obvious that Aragorn ends up with Arwen and Eowyn ends up with Faramir. I blew a gasket. “What?!!! She ends up with Faramir!!!” I turned to my husband “I can't believe this! Do we have to stay?” I'm thankful my husband encouraged me to stay because the ending with the hobbits is beautiful.

So what is the point of my ranting? I have lived my life with my favorite princess slaying the dragon disguised as a knight and getting the guy, who was a king disguised as a ranger. I desperately wanted to learn how to fence just so that I could wield a sword. I started studying the art of swordplay when I was in my twenties and now part of my living is in stage combat shows and teaching stage combat workshops.

  Only two times in my life have I had short hair, otherwise, I have had long hair trailing down my back. It became blonde again when I turned 16. You can see how much this character meant to me and the affect it had on my life.

Another one would arrive to join Eowyn when I was in my twenties. I was reminded of Eowyn when I saw a movie starring LeeLee Sobroski as Joan of Arc in a made for TV movie. 

 That character also dressed in armor and fought in a battle. She loved her earthly king, but not in the same way as Eowyn had because Joan loved a greater King. To my twenty year old eyes at the time I viewed that movie, Joan's story ends up even more tragic than Eowyn's. Joan was captured, tied to the stake and burned alive.

Why was I drawn to these women, who wore armor, who fought in battles against evil, who loved their kings dearly enough to put their lives at risk and who had dreadful endings to their stories according to my not-yet-catechized mind . Where was the reward for their well fought fights?

 Eowyn

Joan

Three evenings in May of 2008 as I slumbered near EWTN studios located in Irondale, AL, I would wake up from a startling reoccurring dream. I was dressed in armor and facing an unseen menace that surrounded me. In the dream is was so dark that I could not see in front of me, but I knew that I was surrounded by this evil. I also knew that I was not alone. I was back to back with a woman clad in armor and because she was left-handed as I am we were completely protected. My shield protected her sword arm and her shield protected my sword arm. I was not afraid because I knew that I was not alone. I would wake up before the battle began but I would say as soon as I did wake up “No man am I. I am Eowyn.” I would laugh at myself for being silly and then wonder to myself, “Who was the girl in the armor?

When I became Catholic in April 11, 2009, I chose St. Joan of Arc as my confirmation saint because in some way I thought that she was the girl in armor that had my back in my dream or at least I liked that idea the it was Joan, who had my back. When I discovered maybe 2 years later that Joan was supposed to have been left-handed it has just supported my notion.

I guess the imaginary Eowyn heroine figure led to my true life Joan of Arc heroine figure. They have given me examples of how I can face the darkness of evil by drawing my sword, pulling off my helmet to reveal that I am a woman. I too wear armor...the armor of God and I am His daughter.