Hercules "Through works and NOT grace alone".

The name of Hercules instantly summons the images of raw strength and rugged masculinity.
Hercules was born of a union between the mortal woman Alcmena and a God; Zeus
the king of the Gods.

Hercules is first and foremost a man. He is burdened with the flaws and temptations of any
mortal man; but, gifted with the strength and near invincibility of a God. The
latter part might sound ideal; however, the implications for Hercules’s actions
are far reaching and often times tragic. His strength serves as much a curse as
a blessing. Hercules treads on a slippery slope
as more than a mortal man but less than a God. Much of Hercules’s story is a
constant struggle with self control and accepting the responsibly for his
otherworldly strength.

The examination of Hercules’s life is a worthwhile study for any man, pagan or otherwise. Hercules seems to have all that a man could want. He is incredibly powerful, popular with the ladies and leads a heroic life filled with endless adventure; however, I found that when I was internalizing his stories I experienced a profound sense of sadness and angst in them.

Hercules is in truth Zeus’s bastard son and while Hercules is brought up by skilled warriors and tradesmen who fill the role of father figure; Zeus remains distant and the secret wish of every boy is to please his father regardless of whether that father is deserving or not.

Hercules finds himself plagued by Hera, the wife of Zeus and Queen of the Gods. Because
of Hercules’s great strength and the attention it brings him, Hera is constantly
remained of Zeus’s frequent extramarital affairs. It was Hera who placed
Hercules under a spell of insanity, driving him mad and causing him to rip his
wife and children to pieces with his bare hands and teeth.

While Hera that caused his madness, it was Hercules who had to carry that unbearable guilt.
Hercules fled deep into the desolate wilderness and languished for year in his
shame. In terrible need for salvation Hercules vowed to make amends. Hercules traveled
to the Oracle at Delphi to ask for Apollo what he could do to purify his heart
and cleanse that evil act from his spirit. Knowing that true forgiveness and
redemption can only come from work and not just grace, Apollo set forth a
series of tasks that would absolve Hercules of his guilt and set him free.

This part of Hercules’s life serves as an important lesson and dire warning. Men need to
be ever mindful of their actions, even more so when they are upset and angry.
It is in these movements that long lasting harm followed by deep regret can happen
in an instant of rage. Hercules traveling to the Oracle at Delphi shows that we
must also seek the wisdom of Delphi, to “Know thy Self”, we also need to take responsibility for what
we have done, accept the consequences of our actions and do our best to set
things right.

At Delphi, Hercules learned that he must perform a series of hard physical labors. Only through
sweat and toil can Hercules be cleansed. Hercules submitted himself into
service, putting his gift of strength to constructive use. Earning back his
dignity and admonishing his guilt.

The story of Hercules makes it clear, that it’s by works and not just “grace” that we
demonstrate who we really are as people and what we are truly attaining towards.
The saying, your actions are so loud, I can’t hear what you are saying”,
applies strongly here.

Women play a major role Hercules’s life. Some genuinely care about Hercules; however most only want to use him for their own agendas, usually at Hercules’s expense. A lesson for all men to
closely examine the role women play in their lives.

Deianira Hercules’s second wife ultimately caused his death. Deianira weaved Hercules a cloak as a gift upon his return from a long journey. On the inside of the cloak she smeared a magical love balm made out of rare herbs and the blood of a dying centaur who told her that this balm would make any man she rubbed it on love her and only her.

That centaur however had been shot by Hercules with an arrow that had been dipped
into the poisoned blood of the Hydra he had killed. In an act of revenge the
centaur lied to Deianira. His blood was tainted by that hydra’s poison. His blood turned to acid and interacted with the rare herbs he instructed her to mix in to the balm. When Hercules placed
the cloak around his body the balm seared away Hercules’s skin and bonded so
tightly to his muscles that not even the strength of Hercules could pull the
cloak off. The poison near ceased to eat away at his muscles and bond tighter
and tighter causing Hercules unimaginable and unending grief.

In the days of horrific agony that followed, Hercules decided he had experienced enough
pain. In his last and perhaps his single greatest display of strength, Hercules
forgave his second wife Deianira for what she did, he forgave Zeus for not
being present in his life and he even forgave Hera for all the strife she cause
him. Hercules then built a funeral pyre and allowed himself to be burned to
death, one last and final cleansing. In this act Hercules attained grace,
through his labors he was found worthy of it and was ascended to Mount Olympus
to take his rightful place among the Gods.

Hercules demonstrated that sometimes it takes more strength to let go then hold on. It
takes a great amount of courage to relieve others of their burdens of guilt and
set their hearts free. You release yourself from having to hold their guilt
captive.

Strength training serves as a “labor”. By letting the sweat that pours from out your
body cleanse you and let the pain from strength training be the fires of
purification you are engaging in a physical, emotional and spiritual release.
You are proving your willingness to become a stronger person and increasing
your capabilities to be of serve to others. Through works you will attain
grace. Every time you train let it be a type of baptism and through your works
and deeds earn your place among the higher intelligences.

-Kevin Wikse 8/07/2011