Maul Shadow Lord: Hate Will Set You Free

Ironic subtitle for a Christian to write. Hate & vengeance goes counter to a doctrine of peace & forgiveness. The new Star Wars animated series is about Darth Maul and his unending quest for vengeance against his former master and Sith Lord. I liked the character even in his short misadventure in the awful Star Wars Phantom Menace movie. He was the only good part of that movie. 

In Star Wars canon he comes back and takes over the criminal underworld, assembling a gang of tough mercenaries. He is more mature, wiley and strangely honorable in his own way. An anti-hero you root for. And is he motivated, incredibly motivated by revenge. I mean, the Emperor did kill his mother, brother and destroyed most of his underworld empire. 

Maul said: “Only when you let go of your restraint. Tap into your rage. Let it serve you. Use your rage and unleash your potential. Aggression is the only way.”

Jedi Master Daki: “No! Do not give in to such emotions. We must remain calm in the face of fear. True power lies in our patience and cunning.”

Both are correct. Yin and Yang of humans. I’ve wrestled with this my entire life. I tend to be more Sith than Jedi. I need to be more Jedi: calmer, less tempted to rage. Unfortunately rage is a powerful tool. And I am imperfect, so I still tap into my anger and need for revenge. Not as often or always as I used to but I still do it. 

I’ve taken a view that for my loved ones, family and friends, I am willing to be patient and forgiving. Christian. For everyone else, you get one chance. It’s Tit for Tat. Cheat me or let me down, you get the knife (metaphorically of course). As the epitaph of the old Roman patrician Sulla goes: “No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid fully.” It’s a good code for life. 

This is so motivating for me personally, for me to continue to grind harder than before. The more resources I acquire and the more prosperous I am, the better I can help my tribe, my family, my friends & business partners. And more importantly, the better I can hurt my enemies. Paraphrasing Maul: Let your rage unleash your potential.