J. Michael Straczynski put out a tweet that changed my life for the next 2 months. Namely the place you can watch, probably, one of the best sci fi shows ever; Babylon 5! There are many parrallels that are easily made in this show to the long history of the world wars, but the parrallel that stuck out in my mind the most is in the episode, "Comes The Inquisitor". In this episode Delenn is tested, but not only Delenn. Her fellowship of shadow fighters must prove they have the willingness to go into the great night unknown. To die for what is right and never attain glory or rememberance for it.
The inquisitor makes this statement as he is leaving:
"No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his brother. Not for millions, not for glory, not for fame--for one person, in the dark, where no one will ever know or see. I have been in service to the Vorlons for centuries, waiting for you: Diogenes and his lamp looking for an honest man willing to die for all the wrong reasons."
The Bible says something very similar in John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." I've never really given this idea much deep thought. It seemed self explanitory. But I think the inquisitor lays it out for us better in this episode toward the end of the first part, "for one person, in the dark, where no one will ever know or see." Would we die for someone knowing the selfless act would never been seen by anyone but God? Can we, those who cannot get rid of our stuff to help others, sacrifice our lives for someone we do not know? Would we die for all the wrong reasons?
I don't know. I do know that this sacrifice is part of what makes Christianity so special, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." 1 John 3:16. God gave his life for us on the cross, he was willing to do so for just one person, not for millions, not for fame, not for glory; but to bring us closer to him. He was willing to die for all the wrong reasons, for all the reasons that don't make sense to us. Are we willing to do the same? Something to ponder.
