I enjoy a good drama. Maybe I am unique because I have a hard time not thinking during a movie instead of simply turning off my brain and taking in the movie. I look for a couple themes in movies that I am striving to grow in: 1. Leadership 2. Fatherhood. One of my top five all-time favorite movies is Gladiator starring Russell Crowe as the general Maximus. Before going any further I must remind you that the movie is fictional although based on some true characters.*
Noble Warrior
Maximus is the General of the Roman army during the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelias. He is a very 
noble man who longs to be home with his wife and son. As you watch this movie you see a man who leads by example and puts others before himself. All you can gather about him as a father is that he is a very loving a caring father who probably cares for his family in the same way he cares for the soldiers he leads.
Wise Sage
Marcus Aurelius also is characterized as a very noble man. He was known for his wisdom and how he ruled by reason. We see a humble man who let his people do their jobs and empowered them. He led by principle, yet felt he was a failure to his son. The movie does not reveal the nuances of this father’s relationship to his son, but I get a sense there was a great disconnect because of the difference in values. This difference grew into a favoritism of Maximus to the point of virtually rejecting his son.
Wounded Leader
Aurelius had a daughter and a son. Lucilla and Commodus. Lucilla was a strong and principled woman who agreed with the Roman ideals, but Commodus was driven mad by his ambition and hunger for power. This feeling of a lack of love from his father appears to drive the ambition for power as if it will fill the void of love in his soul.
Which are you?
Three men, all leaders, two of them fathers. This movie reveals three different types of leaders. The wise sage who leads from a far, but cares for his people as we see in Marcus Aurelius. Maximus, the courageous and noble warrior who uses that same courage and nobility to lead gladiators to unite against a common enemy instead of only fending for themselves. A wounded leader who appears to fill the empty void in his soul with a drive for recognition, power, and fame which all allude him no matter how hard he tries.
The question for all leaders is which of these do you lean to? A wise sage who has made mistakes? Are you the courageous and noble warrior? Maybe the wounded leader? Whether you are a father or a mother you could fall into any of these areas. As a leader myself I can be each one at times, but I hope to be a man who demonstrates the courage of Maximus, the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and the appropriate and healthy amount of selfless ambition unlike the selfish ambition of Commodus. How will you lead with courage, wisdom, and selfless ambition to add value to those around you today? Lead Well.
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*For the facts there is a short bio on Marcus Aurelias, but it may be a spoiler for you if you thought Gladiator was true. http://www.biography.com/people/marcus-aurelius-9192657#challenges-to-his-authority
