300

seven things i learned from watching the movie:

* chosen and designed to be warriors

     A Spartan is the best warrior there is. Trained to be such, chosen by their leaders even right after birth.

     A Christian is supposed to be, not only the best but also the greatest there is. Trained to be such, chosen by God even before birth. “I have created you. I have called you by name. You are mine.” Isaiah 43:1-2

     Everything happens for a reason and as what kuya Romel said that, who we are and what we have right now is a preparation/training for the greater things that will come.

     We are God’s chosen warriors thus we have to “do what we are born and trained to do”, to defend God’s kingdom.

* fight for what is right/for what we believe in

   Impossible as it may seem, never be dismayed or discouraged. Versus hundreds of thousand of Persian foes, outnumbered yet Spartans fought a good fight. (2,641,610 Persians versus 700 Thespians and 300 Spartans *from Encarta Encyclopedia) No set backs, no hesitations, no room for doubt.

     Rather seeing the numbers of their foes as a problem, they see it as a challenge and that kept them going. When we take situations not as a problem but as a challenge, it’ll be easy for us to overcome it.

     We need to fight even to our death, a beautiful death; to die fighting for what is right.

* fight as one

            Spartans fight as a single “impenetrable” unit, watching each other’s back, thus making every single Spartan important.

            If we want to give our foes a good fight, we need to act as one, no space for division. Everyone is important; no one is to be left behind.

            Impossible for us if we’ll put it in a way that we expect people to fight for us and watch our back, but it’ll be a lot easier if we’ll have it the other way around, we’ll held our selves accountable for others and watch their back.

* leave room for love

            Let’s fight not because of hate, not just because of honor and justice. Let’s fight out of love and with love. All the things we’ve done, we are doing and will do is nothing without Love.

            Let us take time to show and express our love to the one we love (and even to those we don’t) while we still can. As what Leonidas’ General (uh, I forgot his name) said: “I have lived my entire life without regret until now. It’s not that my son gave up His life for His country, it’s just that I’ve never told him that I love him that much…”

* jeopardy of rejection

            Just because he was quite different from the rest, King Leonidas turned down Ephialtes (the hunch back) that leads to their fall.

            There’s nothing wrong with King Leonidas’ standards. I see it important. I have nothing against it, but much resentment against the way it was presented. Spartans needs help (a lot of it) but they refused the offer just because he didn’t meet their standards. As a result, Ephialtes felt rejected and unwanted.

            We should be alarmed when we see our community; instead to bringing more to God’s fold, our standards will become a hindrance; instead of discovering the sparkle of God in every person and bringing out the best in them, many will feel rejected and unwanted, making us as a community of the “righteous” rather than a “loving” community.

* wish well and forgive

            I was surprised when King Leonidas’ actually forgave Ephialtes and wished him well before the king died. Huh? After all he has done? Unfair!

            But, on second thought, isn't forgiveness unfair? When God forgave our sins without any question, even if we’re not worthy and even if we deserve condemnation, isn’t it unfair? J

            Thus, we also need to share that unfairness to others and break the cycle of blame and loosen the stranglehold of guilt as what King Leonidas did. Let us all discover the healing power of forgiveness, not only for those who wronged us but more so for us.

            What King Leonidas did was a great strategy for him to set himself free, just before giving his one last shot, just before he died.

* victory from defeat (talo na naipanalo pa)

            As we all know, all of the 300 Spartans died. They didn’t see the victory, the fruits of their hard work.

            Just like the 300 Spartans, there is no guarantee that we’ll see victory. We might die fighting for it, but just like them, let’s begin a new age of freedom, and give our last breath to defend it, let’s not think what we’ll get out of these, but let’s just do it because God says so.

“Go, stranger, and tell the *Lacedaemonians that here we lie, obedient to their commands.” (Inscription over the tomb in which King Leonidas and his followers were buried after their defeat at Thermopylae. *Lacedaemonians: ancient Greek city of Sparta)

            Because of the 300 Spartan’s bravery and obedience, new breed of Spartans are willing to bleed to claim victory. People will continue the work God has started in our lives.

            We may or may not be there when it happens, but one thing is for sure, that victory will be at hand.