Hell Den

They all have to go through the exact same procedure in the very first line and the very first millisecond of their lives: being born. 

And right there lies this heroine, wrestling with the pain, the despair, and the wish that this one thing – the giving of life – turns out alright. 
No, she had little or no chance to prepare for this moment of life-gifting. 
Now, what if this heroine also brought a future hero into the world? 
Well, a hero’s delight, probably.

Those who hold the profession of “hero” accomplish extraordinary deeds, take on serious risks, and do so only to protect or promote the wellbeing of others. 
Originally, “hero” first appeared in Greek as “heros” and now means “protector” everywhere. 
Well, would you look at that.

Heroes have it tough. 
And they often struggle to follow their calling in desperate and dystopian situations. 
Too many of the challenges facing heroism are buried in the extremely fine print. 

On top of that, there are at least two kinds of heroes. 
There are, first of all, the interpreters of the hero profession – the pure performers, showing us what a hero must look like. 

These figures can be found in books, films, and plays. 
That’s what they’re hired for. 
And they do a good-to-heroic job of presenting themselves as brave, unshakeable, and winning. 
Or performing. 

This masterpiece of the art of portrayal, of playing a role, is so convincing that many people have wanted to cut themselves more than just a slice of it. 
Because where does the light shine brighter and the excitement run higher than when the hero takes the stage? 
Yes, it doesn’t matter which stage that happens to be. 

The portrayal of heroism is gripping and fascinating everywhere. 
That’s where the hero-performers are born – in politics, in business, and in the land of narcissism. 
Not physically. More mystically and mentally, birthed into being.

Now then, let me turn around and try to find the other group of hero-like beings. 

Oh, that’s easy. 
Because the tiny but powerful thing for future heroes lives inside most of us. 
We often don’t know it. 
And maybe that’s just as well.

The long and yet, in the grand scheme, extremely brief history of humanity has often turned for the better because this thing awoke at exactly the right moments. 
And bravely faced the situation. 

Courage is extremely ticklish, but necessary if you want to act in any heroic way. 
It is also blissfully unaware of any possible dangers or risks when its time has come. 
When it recognises itself as courage and acts. 

No, these heroes are not muscular and armed with swords or other strange things. 

They simply raise their heads and say “No.” 

No, racism has no place here. 
No, women and children are not mistreated here. 
No, justice is not disregarded here. 
No, sexism is not a minor offence.

And lo and behold – when this hero gene shows up in peaceful protests, in courageous civil disobedience, certain “God-given” situations do change. 

Lately, I’ve been seeing news again that offers more real utopia than current dystopia. 

And everywhere there are thousands upon thousands of heroes to be seen, who have remembered their courage and are rising up.

Holy smokes. 

Good thing that someone in the Department of Evolution invented the wonderfully important profession of hero.

Well then – no hell then.