I heard a message Sunday based on the movie Captain America: Civil War. Full disclosure, I haven’t actually seen the whole movie. I got a pretty good overview during the message, but it was really only about 30 minutes worth. So. These thoughts are going to be very loosely based on that film, but not perfectly, so if you’re really into some Captain America, don’t get mad at me.
I like superhero movies. I’m not good at keeping up with them, but I like them when I get around to watching them. I especially like The Avengers-related movies, because I like the unity. (Also they’re very well done.) But I can appreciate that all of these heroes, with such strong stories of their own, set all of that aside to work together and save the world. Unfortunately this togetherness falls apart during Civil War. A team that is supposed to be together, support each other, be one… suddenly they aren’t.
This is about where the metaphor ends. This is the concept that hit me as so very relevant to what we talk about around here. To borrow from my notes, “Life is not merely about solving a problem, it’s about being a problem solver.” Some problems cannot be solved. Some wars cannot be won. Some problems can be solved, unless you (“you” being the parties involved in said war) turn on each other. The success of this “problem solving”, this war-winning, is completely dependent on what you do when these problems, these most evil of enemies, start to show themselves. It depends on your determination to be a warrior.
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” — John 16:33 {Amplified Bible}
To combine a couple of other versions, “In the world you will have trouble. {NIV} But take heart! I have overcome the world. {ESV}”
We will have trouble, suffering, distress. We will have loss, pain, betrayal. We may have mental illness, physical illness. These things will happen, and there’s not a single thing you can do about it. The only thing you can do is take heart. Be courageous. Be brave. Be filled with joy. What? Yeah. That’s my gut reaction. “Hello, you have an illness. Your brain doesn’t work like other people’s. Your chemicals are wonky and screwed up and you will literally not be able to control your thought processes or physical reactions to those thought processes. Congratulations, have fun with that.” HOORAY I AM SO FILLED WITH JOY. No. (If that is you, bless your soul. Teach us your ways.)
Here’s where this all comes back around. That last sentence is key. “I have overcome the world. My conquest is accomplished. My victory abiding.” Conquest. Victory. These are the words we want to hear in a war. And we are in a war. In the realm of mental illness (because this is what I know best right now), we are at war with our literal selves. It’s Captain America vs. Ironman. Black Widow vs. Hawkeye. We have illnesses. They try to take over everything. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they start to win the war.
The image to the left was taken on one of Brandon’s worst days. One of the lowest depressive days. I don’t have a photo of one of the highest manic days, but you would be amazed. It literally changes his physical appearance. But take heart, my dear. Be brave, love. Because this illness DOES NOT HAVE YOU. Your victory is secured, because in the end, it’s not your war to fight. It isn’t just you against yourself. You have the greatest ally the universe has ever known. Look for the peace. Your fight is to find the peace within yourself, within the Warrior who has already won every war we could ever imagine and more.
You will win this Civil War. The Avengers will reunite. (Hopefully. Come on, Tony Stark.) You are a fighter, a superhero. Victory does not belong to bipolar, to depression, to anxiety, cancer, heart disease. It does not belong to the enemy within yourself. Victory is yours, because victory is His.
The End.
[Fade to black.]
[Roll credits.]
