Why Charlie Brown is a hero
Every year Lucy entices Charlie Brown to kick the football. Even though there is nothing more that Charlie would like than to kick that football, he knows that Lucy is going to pull it away at the last moment, and then he will miss the ball and fall on his back. Yet, somehow, Lucy convinces Charlie to make the attempt one more time.
Whether it is Charlie’s persistence or unwavering naiveté (which translates into the belief in a person’s ability to change), there is something inside me that roots for him to get to the ball just a little quicker – to actually kick the ball out of Lucy’s hands before she can jerk it away. He never does, but somehow, he always convinces me that he has a chance this time – that Lucy isn’t going to pull the ball away. I watch him as he walks out several paces away from the ball talking about how far he is going to kick it this time. I watch him turn around, and I hold my breath as he begins his run at the football.
Then just as in a football game when the kick is muffed, I let out a scream as Lucy pulls the ball away and Charlie flies through the air landing on his back. Sure, Lucy generally has a smart comment to say about why it was okay for her to pull the ball away, but it is really Charlie that I focus on. It is his character that I want to emulate. He isn’t the smartest, fastest, sportiest or any other “-est” that we might value in today’s society. Only Linus has ever given him a superlative when he said, “Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest.”
That being said, Charlie Brown’s truly outstanding qualities are his perseverance, his ability to be a true friend and his kind-heartedness.
Even in the face of torrential downpours, a terribly long losing streak, and teammates that just don’t get it, Charlie brown gets out on the field to play ball. Yes, the little red-haired girl may be out of his league, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to impress her, and for every time that Lucy holds out that football, Charlie is there to try to kick it again.
As a friend, Charlie is tops. He never puts anyone down. He supports Linus and his quest for the Great Pumpkin and even tries to cheer him up when the Great Pumpkin doesn’t arrive.
Most important is Charlie’s kind-heartedness, which often results in his downfall amongst his peers. Charlie just wants the best for everyone, even that small little tree from which all the needles fall.
Even if it means having a little trouble with the scissors or not getting the right tree for the Christmas pageant, I hope we can all be a little more like Charlie Brown.
Become a patron at Patreon and read Charlie Brown, Halloween and Creativity
Whether it is Charlie’s persistence or unwavering naiveté (which translates into the belief in a person’s ability to change), there is something inside me that roots for him to get to the ball just a little quicker – to actually kick the ball out of Lucy’s hands before she can jerk it away. He never does, but somehow, he always convinces me that he has a chance this time – that Lucy isn’t going to pull the ball away. I watch him as he walks out several paces away from the ball talking about how far he is going to kick it this time. I watch him turn around, and I hold my breath as he begins his run at the football.
Then just as in a football game when the kick is muffed, I let out a scream as Lucy pulls the ball away and Charlie flies through the air landing on his back. Sure, Lucy generally has a smart comment to say about why it was okay for her to pull the ball away, but it is really Charlie that I focus on. It is his character that I want to emulate. He isn’t the smartest, fastest, sportiest or any other “-est” that we might value in today’s society. Only Linus has ever given him a superlative when he said, “Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest.”
That being said, Charlie Brown’s truly outstanding qualities are his perseverance, his ability to be a true friend and his kind-heartedness.
Even in the face of torrential downpours, a terribly long losing streak, and teammates that just don’t get it, Charlie brown gets out on the field to play ball. Yes, the little red-haired girl may be out of his league, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to impress her, and for every time that Lucy holds out that football, Charlie is there to try to kick it again.
As a friend, Charlie is tops. He never puts anyone down. He supports Linus and his quest for the Great Pumpkin and even tries to cheer him up when the Great Pumpkin doesn’t arrive.
Most important is Charlie’s kind-heartedness, which often results in his downfall amongst his peers. Charlie just wants the best for everyone, even that small little tree from which all the needles fall.
Even if it means having a little trouble with the scissors or not getting the right tree for the Christmas pageant, I hope we can all be a little more like Charlie Brown.
Become a patron at Patreon and read Charlie Brown, Halloween and Creativity
|
|