The Secret of Heroism

Today’s author is Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn. I loved the animated movie as a kid, but did not read the novel until college. It is an amazing piece of fantasy literature that utilizes many of the greatest stories, legends, and motifs that have been used throughout the genre. It is one of the core novels that has shaped my love of fantasy literature, and one of my greatest inspirations for me as a fantasy writer.

I’m going to share a quote here, that is probably my favorite quote from the whole story, and even more, is one of my favorite quotes from all literature.

“The true secret in being a hero lies in knowing the order of things. The swineherd cannot already be wed to the princess when he embarks on his adventures, nor can the boy knock on the witch’s door when she is already away on vacation. The wicked uncle cannot be found out and foiled before he does something wicked. Things must happen when it is time for them to happen. Quests may not simply be abandoned; prophecies may not be left to rot like unpicked fruit; unicorns may go unrescued for a very long time, but not forever. The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story.”
-Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn

Firstly, this is a great quote for writers and readers. It reminds us that those slower parts of the story, or the hardest parts, the hero’s dark night of the soul, are needed before we write the triumphant climax. It also reminds us readers to have patience as the story unfolds and the character grows.
Secondly and more importantly, this quote teaches us a valuable life lesson that the happily ever after does not come in the middle of the story. All of us desire to do or be something great. Maybe we don’t always call it being heroic, but in a way, all of us want to be heroes to some degree. We often forget good heroes are built, not born. It takes time, and in that time, it takes patience. Often it takes more than patience. It takes endurance to stand in suffering and trials.

This is why I love Hebrews chapter 11 which is often called the Heroes of the Faith passage. The chapter recounts the stories of all the Biblical heroes who persevered and went down in history as heroes. Without fail, they all waited for prolonged seasons and faced intense trials, but they all persevered. They were not perfect, they made mistakes, but their faith in God is what they are credited for. It is the same in all great fantasy stories. We keep reading when the main character is struggling because, if the author is a good author, the victory will be worth the hardship.

I love fantasy stories for the same reason I love Hebrews chapter 11. The story gives us an example to follow in heroism, and even more, it gives us comfort that imperfect people who struggle, just like you and me, can do the impossible. Most of the characters listed in Hebrews do not receive much of a reward in this life. Instead they are promised a heavenly city. What they did receive in their lives was the fact that God was not ashamed to be called their God. They received God’s approval and favor for nothing more than having faith and never giving up. What more, God accomplished the impossible through them. There is nothing more exhilarating than when a hero who feels incapable, rises to challenge before them, and does what seemed impossible.

Walking with heroes as we read their stories feels like we have a good friend who understands our hardships. When they overcome, we are reminded we can do the same. And when victory seems a long way out, we remember the order of things. The happily ever after does not come in the middle of the story. We may not always understand how God is moving in our lives, but He is wise and powerful, and able to do more than we could ever imagine.

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 8:18
 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Hebrews 11:13-40

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,  even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”