The old Greek legends of mighty demigod heroes have fascinated many a child. Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, Theseus, the killer of the Minotaur, and Achilles, the nightmare of Troy, all grow dim in the light of Heracles. Heracles, better known for his Roman name, Hercules, overcame 12 labors given to him by a king and returned triumphant each time. He had slain the creatures and gathered the objects, not in a selfish pursuit of glory and fame, but the wrath and grief of a husband and father. Repentance drew him forth with a rage equal to burning flames, not of a god, but a man. He is humanity’s symbol of just how far one will go for the stakes of our families, the legends we would reduce to ash. Deep down, in the efforts of overcoming our burdens, the same torch of Heracles will burn brighter than any star, and no number of labors can dim that light.