Spiderman

I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble. And finally gets us to die with pride. Even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want most, even our dreams.
-- Spiderman 2

i was watching, yeah, spiderman on tv last night. i was a bit surprised that the last time i watched it, i didn't think it was really that good. it is after all, a typical super hero plot. but somehow, it held more meaning to me this time. i guess like many other things, for example books or songs, when you come back to the same one after years and you've grown up in some way or another, you realise the worth and beauty for certain things you used to fail to notice. yes, like spiderman.

we all know the story of spiderman and in fact, many other fiction heroes. we enjoy envisioning super heroes, with all their invisibilities; physical, emotional and mental. we take pleasure in forgetting that they too, are with feelings, responsibilities and concerns. that leaves us with all the right to blame them for any "mishap" or "mistake" that takes place in our lives.

and that, is sometimes, the way we tend to treat our sole Saviour, our loved ones and those we look up to.

from another perspective, it is also true that sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want most, even our dreams. maybe in another word, it can just be summed up as sacrifice. sacrifices make the world go 'round. i read before somewhere, that everything is a sacrifice. we just don't realise it. for example, when we choose to switch on the computer, we sacrifice the time to sleep. or when we choose to sleep, we sacrifice the time to socialise. a chain reaction, almost.

and these few days, i've tasted a shred of what sacrifice is. sure, we make sacrifices all the time. we'd stoop down to help a friend carry a load, we'd help wash the dishes, we'd stay up to listen to a complaint. but these are almost (for some people) automatic reactions, out of love and rather instantaneous. but what about sacrifices which we can see are bound to lead to hardships and require us to do something we truly dread. what would we not give to avoid such occasions? however, at times, it isn't about our choice really, rather about doing what the heart says is right.

it's so convenient at times to throw a tantrum, to pout, to ignore, to complain, to compare, to sneer. but let's take it like Peter Parker. be angry at it, but momentarily, then embrace it if you must.

should i have done things my way, i would've easily chosen the easier and more enjoyable route. it would have been so easy. it would have been what i wanted. it would have been a joy. but somehow i don't think it right.

and i guess, all in all, i'm still glad.

and you begin to realise, maybe it isn't so bad after all. and you smile, though a forced one at first, you'll get the hang of it.

it's part of what i've learnt this Advent season.