Villains

I was listening to Dan Brown (author of Da Vinci code) on Rick Rubin’s podcast and he said something that stood out to me.

The villain is the first character he figures out. Because they form the hero.

It made me think about two things regarding identity.

1. Am I being formed by a villain?

2. Do I need a villain in my life?

The answer to the first question I think is obvious. Of course you are. Bad things/people are going to happen in your life and it’s almost impossible not to let them shape you in some way. I think the work here is not being controlled by a villain. If you are making decisions based upon how you think your villain will react, you are being controlled by your villain and you are losing a part of your identity in the process. Villains can play a part in shaping your identity but your actions are what makes you, you.

The second question I think is a little more interesting. I can’t help but think of the Last Dance documentary here and the laser focus that Michael Jordan would get when he would almost trick himself into finding a villain. “And I took the personally” became a quote that basically meant, as the kids say, someone is cooked. Or George Patton’s quote of “May God have mercy on my enemies, because I won’t.” These are statements from people who are ready to get some stuff done, at all cost, no matter what. All in the name of defeating a villain.

So, do we need an enemy or villain in our lives to get that laser focus?

My immediate thought was no, just feels a little too against the command to “love your enemies.” After a little more thought though, does a villain have to be a person? Can a villain be a bad habit? A destructive thought-pattern? O man, I don’t think I need A villain, I have plenty. And may God have mercy on them, I’m taking it personally.