Riches make no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4, TLV
Be a Hero. Okay. Full disclosure here. I like disaster movies. Independence Day (the first one). San Andreas. 2012, War of the Worlds. The PG and PG-13 versions. You get the idea. I don’t like the man-made doomsday films. I prefer the natural disaster and alien invasion versions. Ironically, they seem to get to the heart of today’s proverb.
Apparently, others enjoy a good disaster film because Hollywood has produced a plethora of them. What I noticed is that the creatives out there in California seem to enjoy exploring human nature within the drama of incredible.
Whether rich or poor, a catastrophic event brings to the front the true nature of people. When wealth is stripped away and survival is at stake, our integrity is tested.
As I watch these films—and as a writer—I pay attention to how characters are developed. Which character will rise above. Which character will loot or take advantage of the weak. The worse the situation, the more their true selves emerge. The heroes shine and the selfish cower and add more bedlam to the situation.
Hopefully, we’ll never have to experience a Hollywood-scale disaster, but life will always present us with challenges. And, in those rare moments of character revelation, we can see ourselves the way our Heavenly Father sees us every day. Then, perhaps, we can learn from others and our own mistakes.
Who can we be? We can be who our Father created us to be. We can be the hero every day so when the day of wrath appears, we can stand with integrity.
Think More About It
How do you handle disasters? Are you a hero?
Until tomorrow, may we be a hero.
A psalm of David.
I will sing of lovingkindness and justice.
To You, ADONAI [LORD], I will sing praises.
I will behave wisely in the way of integrity
—when will You come to me?
I walk in my house with integrity in my heart.
No base thing will I set before my eyes.
Twisted behavior I hate—it will not cling to me. Psalm 101:1-3, TLV
This is a great prayer. I’m praying for myself first, then adapting for Israel and her people. Walking wisely in integrity. Amen? God bless you!