Remove
My Helmet
By
Lexi Ellis
“…because,
if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the
heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is
saved.
Romans
10: 9-10 (ESV)
In the musical Shrek,
Donkey asks Shrek the ogre who he would be if he could be someone different. Shrek
sings/responds how he’d be a Viking or poet or the hero in the story… anything
different than being hated and despised without anyone truly knowing him.[1]
Some of the lines in
the song are these:
“So yes
I'd be a hero, and if my wish was granted
Life would be enchanted, or so the stories say.
Of course I'd be a hero, and I would scale a tower
And save a hot-house flower, and carry her away
But standing guard would be a beast, I'd somehow overwhelm it,
I'd get the girl, I'd take my breath, and I'd remove my helmet.” [2]
Life would be enchanted, or so the stories say.
Of course I'd be a hero, and I would scale a tower
And save a hot-house flower, and carry her away
But standing guard would be a beast, I'd somehow overwhelm it,
I'd get the girl, I'd take my breath, and I'd remove my helmet.” [2]
The line “remove my
helmet” is poignant because, in the show, Shrek completes the job of rescuing
Princess Fiona. She assumes he is her Prince Charming and demands he remove his
helmet. After debating, Shrek does and Fiona does not hide her disappointment very
well.
Isn’t that really what
we all want? Regardless of age, our deepest desire is to remove our mask or
helmet and be loved regardless of who we truly are…however flawed or ugly we
think (or are told) we are. Some would argue a basic human need involves being
accepted. Whether middle-schoolers or adults or young children, I think one of
our deepest desires is to “remove our helmet” and be accepted regardless.
Aren’t you glad God
created that desire and also fills it personally?! Scripture is clear that not
only did God love us enough to send His Son, but He also accepts us as we are
and invites us into a transforming relationship with Him. There is no rejection
when we remove our helmet with God. It is a relationship where we can approach
His throne without fear…because of His work on the cross.
Shrek longs for being
accepted when he removes his helmet. We have the privilege of experiencing that
through the grace of the cross. May we be those who live that Truth.
GOING DEEPER:
1.
Do you still experience fear when removing your helmet before God?
2.
What do you need to do to remember He accepts you as you are?
FUTHER READING:
[1] Listen to the song
by clicking HERE.
Lexi is married to Andrew and has a dog named Calvin. She
teaches sixth grade and serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh
Start Coordinator.
