Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Agreement/Disagreement (01/19/12)
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TITLE: Lesson From ... a Klingon?! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Helen Carr
01/26/12 -
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The reason I ask is I saw an episode of Star Trek the other day that caught my attention. Now, anyone who is familiar with Star Trek: Voyager would know the half human/half Klingon character B'Elanna Torres. She is one of the strongest members of the Voyager crew, always confident and excelling at all she puts her hand or mind to, however she is also one of the most tormented-of-mind. Her internal struggle is a direct result of her human/Klingon heritage; the traits inherited from her human father - reasoning, restraint and consideration for others – are constantly at odds with those of her Klingon parentage - irrationality, spontaneity and egotism.
In this particular episode B’Elanna is captured by an alien Doctor and has the Klingon DNA removed from her body, which is then used to create a second, fully Klingon B’Elanna. The two are the purest form of their DNAs characteristics, so you can imagine the tension when the two meet face to face, separate entities for the first time.
B’Elanna the human is cowardly, unable to make decisions and weak; B’Elanna the Klingon is ready to fight the Doctor’s lackeys, even if she dies in the attempt to flee. The two cannot agree on which plan to follow, logic or brawn, and argue from the first time they meet. Their disdain for the other is evident, even though they are in fact, one and the same person.
This reminded me of the battle that rages within each person who accepts Christ as their saviour. Suddenly we have the DNA of the old self being pushed aside for the DNA of the new creation. And it’s not always pretty! The old self is programmed to do everything the new self is not, and vice versa. The old self is egocentric, attracted to things not of God and repelled by things that are of him; the new self is the absolute opposite. This can lead to some pretty volatile internal disagreements, and it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that the ‘new me’ can overcome the old. Sometimes, more often than I’d like to admit, my old self wins. But that’s okay, there’s grace aplenty for those moments, and it’s in these times that we learn more about ourselves and the character of God than ever.
For the record, human B’Elanna cannot survive without her Klingon DNA. Similarly, we’ll never be rid of our old selves, well not this side of eternity at least, but rather than resenting our old selves, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to mediate between the two, that God would be given glory wherever we go.
Qapla!
That’s Klingon for goodbye.
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Great analogy---good connection and certainly on point for the writing cue. Good job!
God bless~
Excellent parallel to our own old/new natures in Christ. I've also heard it described as the "white dog/black dog" analogy where you must decide which dog to feed.
I would have liked to see an applicable Bible verse attached to the beginning or end for further contemplation.
This is certainly a devotional which requires action or at the very least serious meditation. Nice job at making us think!
Nice job!