Shakespeare and the Instincts

Shakespeare described the world as a stage and pointed out that a man plays many parts throughout his life. Shakespeare's stages helped me start to recognize some of these unique instincts at work in myself and the men I know. But I also began to recognize them in the men of the Bible. If you read the Biblical stories carefully, it becomes clear that the men of the Bible don't make for great heroes. Their lives are too complicated and messy. They are instead, companions. They expose the complexity of our own lives, and by their lessons, help us find a better way forward as well.