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07 Eleeos
The next one in line is the eleemosynary genius. This term originates from the Greek word ‘eleeos,’ which translates to mercy, a concept that is notably referenced in Romans 12:6-8.
This is the rescuer type; in the realm of sports, this individual is often considered the MVP. When the team is trailing by two goals at halftime and they gather in the locker room, it is the MVP who steps up to the challenge. This is the person who gives it their all. In football, there exist a few exceptional players who possess the versatility to play both forward and defense, running up and down the field numerous times to score and elevate team morale.
In the Bible, David stands out as such a wild card candidate who eventually ascends to kingship. He possesses the talent to play music in a ministerial capacity, driving away Saul’s demons. As a leader, he was unable to don Saul’s armor, yet he demonstrated his prowess by rescuing sheep from bears and lions using merely a slingshot.
At the valley of Elah, with the exception of his envious brothers, David was admired by everyone else because he dared to challenge the challenger. He held a profound belief structure, with a strong desire to restore the honor of God Yahweh from the insults of a foul-mouthed beast. He exhibited immense empathy and compassion, traits characteristic of a bleeding-heart individual. The Psalms are replete with themes of mercy, compassion, and earnest pleas to God. This is the rescuer, the kind of person who, if on a boat that begins to leak in waters infested with sharks or piranhas, would plug the hole with his finger, risking being bitten, until the boat is secured.
This individual would prefer to sacrifice their own life rather than allow others to be harmed. Such people make excellent loss protection officers or bodyguards. David served as Saul’s bodyguard until he established himself. He displayed great compassion. We refer to this type as the mentor, the person who guides you by the hand and introduces you to something new. They inherently empathize with the suffering and work to alleviate pain; they rescue those who have fallen and rebuild broken boundaries.
These individuals include firemen, lifeguards, and bodyguards—the wild cards in any deck. They may be nameless and faceless, but they fulfill a specific role. You don’t deploy a wild card unless absolutely necessary because they have the ability to mimic any other archetype. You play the wild card for the big, unexpected win.
That was David’s role in the Bible, and it is also seen in many others in the New Testament, such as the Good Samaritan. Jesus narrates the parable of the Good Samaritan, who stops to help when others pass by. He places the wounded man on a donkey, takes him to an inn, and even reimburses the innkeeper. This is the essence of the rescuer.
Footnotes
John Samuel and Skip Moen: “The drive and urge to meet needs and take care of difficulties, distress and/ or deficiencies in people, systems or situations. Individuals will seek to address, alleviate or ameliorate the pain, suffering, handicap, limitation or inability that is present in a person, situation or context.”
