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Robin Hood & The Green-Eyed Monster October 20, 2010

Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, People, Spirit & Ego.
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Have you ever reached out to help someone, perhaps even putting yourself in the line of fire, and been spurned as a result?

Have you ever offered a hand to someone in need, and had them bite the hand you extended in return for your efforts?

Have you ever watched in amazement as people turn their backs on those to whom they owe a debt of gratitude?

As we watched Robin Hood (Russell Crowe), we observed what jealousy, envy, and pride do to those who feed ego at the expense of spirit. 

In the 2010 movie, King John lies to his subjects to get them to band together to conquer the French invading Britain.  In return for their loyalty and support in defeating the French, King John reneges on his agreement and declares Robin Longstride to be an enemy of the realm ~ Robin of the Hood or Robin Hood.  

Why would King John repay loyalty and support with treachery?  Because, like many in power, the King listened to his ego, rather than his heart, when viewing Robin’s actions:

King John perceives the French surrendering to Robin, rather than to himself, as a major threat to his power. In the final scenes, King John reneges on his word to sign the Charter of the Forest, burns it, and declares Robin to be an outlaw.

In response to this, Robin moves to Sherwood Forest with Lady Marian and his friends to form what will become the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest.  Robin Hood.

The legend of Robin Hood, long  shrouded in the mists of Sherwood Forest, may be more fiction than fact.  No matter.  We all have met a King John (or two) in our lives, haven’t we?  Supervisors who  reap the benefit of our hard work, then “punish” us for our efforts, rather than expressing gratitude for our loyalty and support.

Rise and rise again . . . until the lambs become the lions.

The goal of many leaders is to get people to think more highly of the leader.  The goal of a great leader is to help people to think more highly of themselves. ~ J. Carla Nortcutt

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For a continued discussion, see King John’s Not-So-Hidden Motivations