The Quiet Man

Americans, huh?! "What are you like!" As my British friends would say. "We don't take no sh*t." That's kind of our motto, dontcha think? If you look at those we put up on a pedestal, they tend to embody that belief. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Sylvester Stallone... they had all the great lines. "... You've got to ask yourself one question. 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya', punk?" Or what about this one... "I'm your worst nightmare." Even when they were romantic, it was a full on action scene. Remember John Wayne in The Quiet Man? Come on now, this is how it should be done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu8PcufLNsQ   
Even our president took on that spirit when a foreign enemy came on our soil and destroyed the lives of thousands of people. All of the sudden we were cowboys chasing down the bad guys and keeping them at bay. Not that we all rallied behind him, but that same attitude couldn't be mistaken.

I admit, I'm drawn to that kind of man at times. A protector, a leader, a 'definer of moments.' They make the tough decisions at crucial times and are willing to live with the consequences. Someones got to do it I s'pose or we'd all be shaking in our boots, afraid of our own shadows. It's the child in us maybe... that needs to know someone bigger and stronger than us is in control and watching out for our good.

I find it easy to make decisions quickly. I doubt I'm always right, but when there's a job to be done, I'll do it. I want to be someone who can be relied upon. But at times I find myself in need... I like being the weaker vessel. I like being able to be vulnerable when there are strong hands nearby to rely on. The funny thing is, I'm also drawn to a humble man... a man who does what needs to be done, but not because he holds himself in high esteem, but because there is a need and he knows it's his duty to meet that need. I respect that man.

My pastor once commented on Christ, and how he carried the cross, his burden, on his shoulder without a word... without complaint, without a curse or a whimper. I can't fathom him giving a line like, "Eat this, sin!" He was humble, as the Bible said..."He was obedient... even to the point of death... even death on a cross." I think the point where a man becomes a man is when he uses his strength and power for the betterment of others and not in order to obtain personal gain. That's a man's man. That's a man we can respect, or should.

Sure we love to cheer on the bad-a**es. After all, they've got the brawn, the guns, the power... it comes naturally to root for the hero. But in the end, it's the man who lays his life down in love that deserves true praise. The missionary who is imprisoned for his faith, the father who loses his job and mows lawns to put food on his family's table, the police officer who puts his own life in danger to rescue women and children from abusive relationships, the retired man who feeds and dresses his wife every day because she has Alzheimers. There are plenty of heroes out there who've never had a catch phrase in their lives, but they deserve our respect. So 'a tip o' the hat to ya'.' As Maureen O'Hara might have said... after she was done with that kiss.