![]() Henley is not intimidated by threat of punishment or judgment, for he is the captain and master of his fate, not an Eternal Judge. The “scroll” charged with punishments is likely a reference to the book of judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. But Henley, so to speak, cries out: bring it on. To reject the narrow path of Christ is to plunge yourself into destruction and judgment. The “straight gate” is an allusion to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” (Matt 7:13-14, KJV). ![]() Henley rejected belief in God, but even if the Christian God exists it matters not. The last verse in particular is a scandalous slap in the face of Christianity. In each verse he is beset by darkness, bludgeoning, horrors, and punishments, yet stands unafraid and undaunted: Invictus. The only nod Henley gives to a power above him is a reference to “whatever gods may be” who give to him his “unconquerable soul.” The rest of the poem positions himself in active resistance not only to the circumstances of his life, but to any kind of higher power over him, whether that be chance (verse 2), death (verse 3), or the Christian God (verse 4). Better to Reign in HellĮach of the four verses strikes a note of defiance. For good and ill, the “unconquerable soul” of Henley has resonated with many. It was also the last words of Timothy McVeigh before he received a lethal injection after killing 168 people in the Oklahoma City bombing. Nelson Mandela famously recited this poem while in prison, looking to it as a beacon of hope. The poem’s influence has been considerable. At the age of 27, while Henley was laid up in a hospital, he wrote Invictus, latin for “unconquerable.” It has become well known, along with Rudyard Kipling’s If, as the quintessential picture of the stoic manly virtue of Victorian England. As an avowed atheist the only solace and strength Henley could look to for comfort amidst a life of suffering was within himself. He spent the remainder of his life in and out of hospitals, under the constant threat of having his other leg amputated, and eventually died from the illness at the age of 53. If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday, you can find the playlist here.One of the most popular poems in the West today (particularly the last two lines), William Ernest Henley’s Invictus is a kind of reverie and praise of the rugged individual who refuses to let the circumstances of life crush them.įrom the age of 12 Henley had tuberculosis of the bone and suffered tremendously, eventually resulting in his left leg being amputated when he was 17. The event is free for ages 4-11, so invite your friends and family! Register or signup to volunteer here. Registration is officially open for Kids Summer Nights! This summer's kids' program will be July 18-22, 6-8PM. Slides team and MiniMo are looking for volunteers! For more information about how you can serve with us at Mosaic, please visit our website. Join us in our usual worship space for prayer, worship through music, and a short message led by a member of Mosaic. You can find more information about baptism at Mosaic here. Please join us in celebrating baptism directly following the 11:15 am service. This Week's Announcements Celebrate Baptismīaptism symbolizes a Believer’s union with Jesus Christ, who laid down His life and took it up again for us, so that we too might walk in the newness of life. Join us tomorrow as we study Romans 6:15-23. "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18 ![]() Unfortunately, seeking freedom from God is a recipe for disaster and leads to slavery to sinful self, leading to a life of emptiness, and an eternity of torment. We live in a society of people who think they have "unconquerable souls." Most people think they truly are masters of their own fate, captains of their own soul. We demand "Freedom"! From what? For what?Īt it's most pernicious, the sentiment wants absolute freedom from God. This notion of complete autonomy and utter independence of the individual self represents perhaps the most unanimously held value in our society. Over a century ago, William Henley penned his famous poem "Invictus." If you haven't heard the poem, I'm sure you're familiar with the sentiment.
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