The Tale of Desperaux - A reminder of heroes

Ok, Michelle talked me into seeing this film because I really wasn't about it at all. It looked good enough, but I never thought that I'd like it. It was going to be a labor of love from me for my wife to go see this one.

At the end of it, I was floored. I won't give the details of the movie, but Desperaux basically is a mouse hero. They try to make him conform to his society, but he doesn't and refuses to. Desperaux desides to be a gentleman, noble and heroic.

The princess asks if he's a mouse and his reply is "I'm a gentleman." Really, she tried to define him by what his species was, and Desperaux replies back with who his heart defines him as.

Do you remember super hero movies growing up? The super heroes had it all together and they did what they did because they choose to be noble, heroic, people of character.

Today when we see a super hero, we see people focusing in on vengence, or they are trying to right a wrong or something has happened tragic in their lives and it has transformed them. It's all well and good, but some heroes today even come across as being evil themselves.

So the question is: Where did all the old hero stories go? Well, when it's said and done, they aren't "deep" to people and the hero stories of old have been forgotten.

The reminder is: We need real heroes. We need people who choose to forgive, choose to be noble, choose to rise above their circumstances and make a point to honor God with their lives. Our world needs heroes to feed the poor, help the homeless, become politicians and maintain integrity, run businesses honorably, become notable husbands, wives, fathers and moms. We need people willing to sacrifice... to stand.

I walked out of this "kid's" movie today with a reminder of what that is. My prayer for us in 2009 is that we are intentional about being heroic. There's so much more I could mention here about Desperaux and the parallels of honorable people and the Christian walk, but go see the movie for yourselves with this in mind and the comparisons are in your face. Some are not comparisons at all. Some are direct lessons.

Thanks honey for making me "endure" this one.

God bless,
Dave