In University I had the privilege of taking a class on Ancient Political Thought (riveting, I know) with Dr. Allison Dube. It only takes a few lectures with Dr. Dube to realize he has obviously had a life filled with obstacles, but he worked hard to overcome them and earn a prestigious academic degree. His personality epitomizes the saying “pay it forward,” always putting his students first even to the detriment of advancing his own career. He could captivate a classroom of 20 or 200, with the charisma of someone like John F. Kennedy.
I will always remember his story of Horatius defending the bridge while we read The Early History of Rome by Livy (he would actually read the books to us in class, interjecting with a funny quip or important analogy along the way). The story goes that the Etruscans made a surprise attack on Rome via a wooden bridge over the Tiber River. All of the Roman forces retreated except Horatius, who stood his ground as “one man against an army.” The Etruscans stared in bewilderment at Horatius, who stood proudly in defense of his great city. They fired their spears, and yet Horatius remained standing. By the time the Etruscans charged, the Romans were able to demolish the bridge and halt the advance. Horatius miraculously swam back to shore, unscathed.
Against impossible odds, Horatius stood tall and did what no one else was willing to do. Had he retreated, the Etruscans would have invaded and captured Rome. Dr. Dube looked up from the book and quietly said, “sometimes, we all have our bridge to bear.” It was a powerful story, powerfully told. We will all have struggles in life – some trivial and some very serious. No matter what, the important thing is that we stand up to our tribulations and meet them with pride and confidence. Cowering to our difficulties and fears leaves us no option but to be enslaved by them.
Do you face and tackle challenges in life or do you retreat in the face of adversity?
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