Becoming Remus Lupin: Voice of Reason #MNBHP
Don’t expect me to cover up for you again, Harry. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them—gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks.”
He walked away, leaving Harry feeling worse by far than he had at any point in Snape’s office.
PoA
Two teachers confront Harry about sneaking out of the heavily guarded castle. One with rage, the other with wisdom. Remus Lupin, once chosen as prefect for his potential to keep his friends in line, finally is able to do that with Harry. But Remus’ success doesn’t come from turning Harry in or yelling at him. Remus succeeds at putting Harry in line (for the most part) because he speaks the truth to Harry out of a place of forgiveness and love.
If we want to be more like Lupin, to be the voice of reason, we can’t be legalistic or compelled by anger. We have to learn to forgive the faults in others by seeing that we too share similar, if not always the same, faults. And, we have to speak truth from a place of love, not anger or spite.
Rules, generally speaking, are put in place to protect us. They are not there so the Percys or Filches of the world can experience the glory of catching and punishing wrong doers—unless they are set by Umbridge. If we view those rules legalistically—without considering their overarching purpose—our voices will not be of reason but of triumph or resentment, like Snape.
However, if we look at the rules through a lens of love and grace, then our voices will be that of reason. They will carry more weight. When we speak the truth, it will impact the hearts of others as Lupin’s words impacted Harry. Lupin knew the end goal was to keep Harry safe. Turning Harry in would have only spurred him to continue to sneak out and push him further from the one person who could help him the most—Lupin. In saving Harry from Snape’s vengeance, Lupin showed Harry love. Then, when he spoke the truth to Harry—the same essential truth Snape had spewed—Harry’s heart was changed. He realized the deeper consequences of his actions.
CHALLENGE:
Be a voice of reason. Treat others with grace and love. Look at the bigger picture. Be more like Lupin than Snape or Percy or Filch. And remember, always show love because…
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Theodore Roosevelt
Who has been your voice of reason? Share your answer with us using #MNBHP.
Next Week: Becoming Sirius Black: Azkaban Escapee
