6 POWERFUL LESSONS FROM MERLIN!

Once upon a time in land of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom lies in the hands of a young boy. His name is Merlin’

When you hear those words at the insertion of a DVD plate that is emblazoned with a courageous, handsome guy called Arthur, his dark beautiful lover servant called Guinevere, a skinny young dragon lord called Merlin, an old and wise physician called Gaius and of course the king of Camelot caller Uther, then you       understand what I actually mean.

The ground breaking seasonal movie that centers on a one time great kingdom is more than a seasonal film. 

Back then in high school, I had heard of this movie called Merlin. I could remember a particular scenario when my class mate Christopher brought the DVD plate then to school. He would spend so much time telling his friends about how this movie had fascinated him. ‘Morgana plotted to kill king Uther but Merlin posed as a hindrance’ I heard him said one time. There I was, listening but never interested at all. Then I was never cut out for watching seasonal films. I enjoyed home videos and a few Americans films I could lay my hands upon. One fateful day I had the opportunity to watch this Merlin. I was happy when I came home on a Friday evening to find my siblings gathered in front of the TV set. You need to see the seriousness written on their excited faces. They really sat tight. As I dropped my bag to join my siblings, I then meet face-to-face with Merlin. ‘Oh this was the same DVD Christopher brought to school last time’ that was about a term earlier. ‘Look at the man with the sword and the boy that stretched his hands’ I quickly added. I was already falling in love with the seasonal film. Despite the fact I never knew the names of these characters nor their roles in the movie, I recognized their faces.

That day marked the beginning of a journey into the world of a great movie about the great city called Camelot. 

The truth be told I spent hours, days, and weeks watching this movie. But in the long run, it turned out to become not just a movie to me, but a great lesson that I could apply to my every day life. You see friends, we need to ask ourselves several questions when we watch films. We need to always look out for simple and timeless lessons we could glean when we spent lots of time in front of that TV set so that we would not just waste time. We can invest our time by watching films that are educating and of which we can learn lessons we could apply to our personal lives. Though, we only learn a minute piece of information when we watch TV but we should maximize every time we use. Research have proved that we learn more from reading than watching television. When we read we are putting our brain cells to work and that helps to articulate each of those million tiny cells to form our memory. This is a simple reason why at times when we read to an extend we feel some kind of ‘headache’ because we are putting our brain cell to tedious work. Just as our muscles become stronger when we exercise, our brain cells are exercised when we engage the act of reading. When we read we learn to think for ourselves and use more of our brain cells. Like Brian Tracy once said ‘the human brain obeys the law of use and disuse, if we do not use it, then we are going to lose it’. Unlike TV where we get every bit of information poured into our brain without allowing us a room for us to think for ourselves. Bingo! What was I actually talking about? Merlin right! Let’s quickly see the few lessons I learned from that seasonal movie.

Arthur Pendragon.

Merlin is a movie that teaches us about BRAVERY and Courage.  Courage is the ability to act in spite of fears. It is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it. Like they said, Arthur in the movie represented bravery. Arthur was a skilled swordsman that was ready to sacrifice anything to protect Camelot. In spite of the myriads of attacks that beset Camelot, he never gave up. He was always ready to face every attack and threat that fell on them. You remember when he promised Morguse to do anything she wished? As a knight and the prince of the great Kingdom-Camelot, he gave Morguese [Morganna’s step sister] his words and like you know, when Arthur gives you his words he certainly fulfils it. Morguese tested his courage when she asked him to place his head on a stone so she could behead him. Merlin stood in confusion and tremble watching to see what Arthur would do. But guess what, Arthur mustered great courage to allow her to behead him. Morguses never beheaded him but she was intrigued at Arthur’s magnitude of courage when she said ‘Indeed you are a man of courage’ Lancelot was another man that displayed a high dose of courage. 

Arthur accepted to be beheaded

Lancelot’s courage was the greatest of all, his courage and bravery was even greater than Arthur’s. Why? He sacrificed his life. Though Arthur made an attempt, but Lancelot never wasted time before everyone could notice what was happening he was already smiling his way down to the boarders between the living and the dead. ‘What love is greater than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends’ says Jesus Christ.  Lancelot spread wide his hands and vanished across the clouds delineating the living and the dead. Quite touching!

Merlin taught me the benefits of WISDOM. Gaius was a man who had wisdom and also knew how to apply it. On many occasions, he warned Merlin about the consequences of every action(s) he was about to take and left him to make his own decisions. He explained every mystery behind every event. Being an old sage he had a vast knowledge of ancient’s inscriptions. He also had a great understanding of magic, how they work and the portions that could be prepared to rescind their effects and influences. When Merlin met his new and disturbing friend that had been locked in a box for over 50, 000 years-the Goblin, Gaius immediately knew that the disturbing Goblin can only be trapped by his most treasured object which was Gold. Gaius transcribed an inscription on the heart of Cornelius Sigan which read ‘whoever breaks my heart completes my works’. Gaius was a man who had wisdom no doubt. If you watched the early seasons closely there are many scenes where Gaius displayed wisdom that helped Camelot from tearing apart. Like the bible puts it ‘wisdom is profitable to direct’

Merlin taught me HUMILITY. I cannot say if anyone could play the role of Guinevere than the way she played that role of a poor servant. She was down-to-earth to the last level. She was lovable and she also showed love to everyone that inhabits the palace. She was hardworking and caring. As a personal assistant to the Lady Morganna, she knew her onions and never was she lackadaisical about her work as a servant. I know you understand what I mean here! Words alone cannot explain well the dose of love, care and passion 

Guinevere dedicated to her work. Those scenes taught me to always do the same while under the care of higher authorities. It was really an eye-opener for me. Above all, she was disciplined with her emotions. She was not loose with her body and that was why she succeeded at being tied to Arthur. In modern times, ladies are loosed with themselves. They expose every part of their body trying to seduce men towards them. They apply heavy make-ups to make up for their defects. True beauty lies in the heart. If you are beautiful, then you are beautiful even when you do not apply ‘make-ups’.  Little wonder Arthur loved her so much well done Guinevere!

Merlin taught me to look closely at my inner circles before putting TRUST on them. People break up from friendships because they had been betrayed in one way or the other reasons being that-they were too quick at putting all their trust on them. People are tricky; they can pose as your friends while they are your doom. They are simply wolves in sheep’s clothing. They pretend to be your friend while they are your foes. Uther trusted Lady Morganna and Uncle Agravine but what happened in the long run? You know the rest of the story. Merlin was angered at Uther’s blindness to Lady Morganna’s secrecy that he asked Gaius ‘Why is he so blind’. Before we put trust on people we should be ensure that they are truly who we think they are. People are funny :)

Merlin taught me TRUE LOVE. Uther was wagging war against magic and sorcery. He was ready to sentence any one who was found guity of having magic deposited inside of them. Do you know what amuses me? When he was sick, they summoned a sorcerer to cure him. Merlin did not see magic and sorcery, he saw gifts. Like he rightly said ‘Magic is not a crime, it is a gift’ 

Freya rejected and dejected

Do you remember the druid girl whom was cursed? Freya. She was forbidden to live a normal life; she lived all her life hiding from people who plotted to kill her. When she was caught and brought to Camelot, Merlin got her released behind the backs of everyone. In spite of the fact that she usually turn into a wild ugly beast, Merlin still showed her love. Because she could not hold herself from killing innocent people whenever she turns into a beast, she hated herself even more. What did Merlin do? Merlin made her understand that, the fact she was cursed does not mean she could not be loved. Merlin cared for her and showed her lots of compassion. When she was about to die from the deep cut she had from Prince Arthur, just a few yards across the river that leads to her hometown, she lied helpless in the hands of Emrys and spoke this powerful words to Merlin. She said ‘I have truly lived because you made me feel loved’ to my best understanding, I believe that was the first day in her entire life someone showed her true love. She had suffered from the pains of hate and neglect all her life. When she died, I saw the marks of pains pierced in the heart of Merlin. But his tears did not bring her back. I believe wherever Freya’s spirit went, she would be happy because she never believed she could ever be loved again in her life. Merlin is an embodiment of true love. He was kind at heart and lowly in spirit. He used his ‘witchcrafts’ to save lives and above all to rescue the great Camelot form TEARING APART!

Merlin shows care to fre

Magic is a gift!

 Lastly, Merlin taught be the usefulness of our GIFTS. Merlin was blessed with the gifts of magic. In a land where magic and sorcery was highly feared and threatened, Merlin made up his mind to use his gifts to save lives and to protect the destiny of Camelot. Many people are blessed with gifts and abilities but are not using their gifts to its fullest potential. What are your gifts? How are you using them? The books of proverbs makes understand that 'the gift of a man maketh room for him'. Until you discover and exploits your hidden powers just like Merlin you will never be fulfilled in life. Living and using our gifts and talents are what brings fulfillment in our lives. You can be successful but not fulfilled.

How are you using your 'powers' today? Are you using your gifts to influence lives positively? Many of us are just like Morganna and Morguse who decided to use their gifts to do evil. Many people are good at something but they use that thing in which they are gifted in to frustrate the lives of people around them. God has blessed us with a treasure chest of gifts, potentials and abilities so we can use them to add value to the lives of others. 'Let your light shine among men' Jesus Said. I urge you to use your own 'magical powers' to say 'Tospringe' to open the lives of others. Above all remember that your gifts are destined to the lives of many people. Merlin's gifts was destined to Camelot. When we succeed in using our gifts many people's success are also destined to ours.

I can continue to elucidate many lessons I have gleaned from the timeless seasonal film. There are many lessons I would not be able to put here, but I believe you have yours. If you think you have not learnt any lessons from the movie rather than the actions embedded in the movie, then I would encourage you to change your perception a little about films. When you watch movies, no matter how boring or adventrous the movie can be learn to look out for simple lessons you can learn. Little lessons can help you greatly in life. Great authors of books have narrated used simple basics from movies as a centre of the writings. You can do the same today. If you think you have learnt one or more lessons from Merlin, then I would be glad to hear from you!

Blessings!