Have you ever wondered what your life would look like if you'd lived in another time frame? Like, would you have been a knight who fought to protect a king, a pirate who traveled the high seas, or a farmer who spent their days churning butter and caring for animals. Personally, I think I'd have wound up the last of those three.
That being said, there's much to admire about the knights and warriors of old. They were protectors who stood up for what's right and fought those trying to cause trouble. They were noble, honest, trustworthy individuals who received honor and glory for their accomplishments, but didn't boast of it or rub it into those who were seen as lesser. They were kind-hearted and sought peace, but not afraid of wielding their weapons and fighting when necessary. Or at least, that's how I view the heroes, the warriors, of the past.
But what does it look like to be a warrior in today's world? I think it can mean a lot of the same things. It means standing up for what's right. That might not involved carrying a sword, but it can look like defending those who can't defend themselves, whether in a fight or a lawsuit. It can also involve being ready to fight, but choosing not to unless absolutely necessary. This can mean being physically fit and have at least some basic training in self-defense or fighting techniques, or the knowledge and ability to use a weapon well that you can have at the ready. This also means being of sober-mind and keeping a reign on your temper. A warrior is not rash in decision-making or quick to fight, unless it's an emergency and there's no other option.
Warriors were also considered noble. I don't mean this in terms of ranking (though I suppose you could depending on the warrior you're thinking of), but in terms of character. They were known to be trustworthy, and you could depend on them to do what's right, or at least to always try to. It doesn't mean they won't ever mess up (David comes to mind), but that they strive to fight for good and live as compassionate, bold, ready individuals who didn't just pass by the needy and defenseless and leave them be, but who helped them as much as possible. They didn't brag about how much better they were than everyone else either, but humbly received honor as they did what they believed was best.
What could this look like today? I think pretty much the same as it did then, just (sadly) with less swords. Being a kind, honest, humble individual is still an option today. You can also still fight for what's good and fight evil, it just might look different. You could defend and help someone who's being abused, work to enact policy changes that protect those in need, or even just perform random acts of kindness to those around you. If you're interested in being a modern-day warrior, you can become one by how much work you put into it, but it's not actually that hard to get started. It merely involves a change in perspective on how to live your life. Is it more worth it to me to buy XYZ that will bring me short-term joy, or to use that little extra cash to buy a meal for someone who can't afford it? Should I just watch the fight at school and let the bullies pick on other kids, or should I try to stop the fights and bullying? Would my time best be spent scrolling through social media, or promoting efforts to change the world for the better? There's lots of groups you can get involved in to make a difference, even if indirectly, on government policies, knowledge of important issues, and even working with those who can't meet their own needs.
Basically, though we don't have knights-in-shining-armor today, I think there's still plenty of ways to be a modern-day warrior. To be someone who doesn't idly wander through life, but who's intentional with how they live, love, and serve those around them. I think being a modern-day warrior sounds pretty awesome, but I also acknowledge I've got a long way to go before I could be considered one. So, I'm making strides in that direction. I've started working out more consistently to get stronger, and at some point want to learn some ways to defend myself and others if a crisis arises (as a warrior is always ready to step in). I'm thinking through how I want to get involved in fighting for justice and making the world a better place (as there's a lot of options). And most importantly, I'm pondering what it even means to be a modern-day warrior. Because, without that foundation, I'll never become one.
What do you think? Do you like the concept of a modern-day warrior? Want to learn how to be one together? I'd love for you to share your ponderings too!
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