Life Lessons From Harry Potter
Terry and I had the chance to watch the “20th Anniversary Show” for the Harry Potter series recently and we really enjoyed it.
We were inspired to start watching all the movies from the very beginning and we’re about half way through.
Even from the very first movie we were captivated by the outstanding qualities of the writing, cinematography, effects, acting, directing, and on and on.
But although some religious groups have slammed these movies because of all the witches and dark forces, etc., I find SO many themes in them that are actually very spiritual in a very good way.
I share these themes from “ Today” as they say exactly what I mean. We can all learn some good lessons from Harry and his friends……
1. Choose your friends wisely
Harry went with his gut, rather than the advice of Draco Malfoy, when it came to picking his pals in his first year at Hogwarts, and those loyal friends remained by his side all the way to the final battle — and beyond. ( Good friends are SUCH a gift!)
2. A good teacher is a great thing
Hogwarts had plenty of amazing teachers who put their students' needs and safety first. And just like their real-world counterparts, we're sure they never made enough galleons, sickles and knuts to compensate them for all their hard work. (As a former teacher, amen to that and a BIG thank-you to all of the teachers in our lives.)
3. Face your fears
Whether it was as simple as saying a frightful name to take away its power or facing one giant spider — and a thousand little ones — confronting fears proved powerful in the Potterverse. ( And believe me, as one who has a giant aversion to ANY spiders, I was quite impressed with how Ron (especially) faced his fears in that episode. Yikes!)
4. If you need help, ask for it
Harry had one flaw throughout every story: His first instinct when facing danger was to face it alone. But along the way, he always found out that a little help from his teachers, the groundskeeper and the headmaster — and a whole lot of help from his friends — was the only way to win. ( My friends are SO important to me. They have helped me get through my hardest times and they still do with prayer and a whole lot of love.)
5. People aren't always what they seem
From the first story to the last, Harry learned powerful lessons about people he thought he knew. For instance, Professor Quirrell seemed like a well-meaning member of the faculty, until Harry discovered the dark (lord) secret he kept under wraps. And despite seven years of doubting Professor Snape's motives, Harry learned the potions master was fighting for him all along. ( Don’t judge a book by its cover…..)
6. Be a doer, not a dreamer
When faced with a mirror that brought one's ultimate fantasies into focus, Dumbledore told Harry: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." ( Let’s get out there and DO it!)
7. Never mistake confidence for courage
Gilderoy Lockhart boasted about his brave feats in "Chamber of Secrets," but it was all a bunch of hot air. Want to see real bravery? Check out quiet Neville Longbottom, who mustered up the courage to stand up to his friends in the beginning and to help take down big bad Voldemort in the end. ( And speaking of Neville….that guy turned out to be an underwear model in real life!)
8. Everyone dies, but some never really live
"Don't pity the dead," Dumbledore — or Harry's idea of the late headmaster — said in the final film. "Pity the living, and above all, all those who live without love." ( If this isn’t ‘religious’ I don’t know what is!)
9. Wealth is relative
Harry's bank vault was filled with mounds of gold galleons, while his best friend, Ron, barely scraped by. But Ron had family, and Harry considered him much richer for it. ( I certainly have my treasures in my family. I have a ‘wealth of relatives’ !)
10. The most harmful action is inaction
"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike," Dumbledore warned in "Order of the Phoenix." ( It is harder to combat indifference than actual anger, I’ve been told.)
11. Older doesn't mean wiser
So many of the best lessons are in Dumbledore's words, including his words about where wisdom is often found: "Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth." (I’ve heard very wise words already from the mouths of my 6 year olds!)
12. It's OK to be a misfit
Luna Lovegood was roundly mocked for being fanciful and just plain out-there — even Hermione accidentally called her "Loony" once — but she was also a faithful friend to Harry and a worthy member of Dumbledore's Army.
13. The way to really know someone
Sirius Black said it best in "Goblet of Fire": “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." ( Beautifully said and so true.)
14. Death is inevitable, but love is immortal
Harry's mother died defending him, but her love lived on — and continued to protect him long after she was gone. (Love. Love. Love.)
15. Magic is real
We may not have wands (or at least ones that work), but we have friends — and that's the most powerful force in the whole Wizarding World. ( I am SO thankful for the magical experience of having dear friends….like YOU!)
