Enter Super Heroes

Summertime Afternoon. Jack and his pal Eden disappear into the game room downstairs and things get dangerously quiet.  But at this moment, I’m so far behind in writing and work that I irresponsibly convince myself that they’re having fun and all is good.

Carpe 5 minutes.

With no worries about markers on walls or pokey-sharp objects, I keep working.  More time passes. Eventually both kids appear upstairs having fully rummaged through the Halloween box that has expanded over 20 years of culture-seasons and questionable taste.  Jack is a combination Cruella DeVille+Keith Richards+Batman, and Eden is sporting the simpler hybrid of Wolverine+Ironman.  Super heroes of their own making. (Jack will kill me for posting this picture. Even at 7, he has pride.)

They ZOOM away. I hear Jack say “I’ll save you” and the younger Eden hollers back “I’ll save you!” I don’t know if they’re talking to each other or to two separate imaginary captives in the toy room. Either way, it works.

As a revised feminist, I remain certain of our strength as individuals, not to tread on each other’s role or strength or enthusiasm to serve, but to focus on the job God has in mind for us – and no one else.  We were created to soar with our own unique superhero powers.  Go Eden.  Go Jack.

Certainly proven this summer, our culture loves superheroes. Probably because we need them more than ever. We need Dads and Moms and CEOs and every-day folks to step up and take care of messes all over town, with whatever set of super-skills we’ve got.  It’s not someone else’s possibility, it’s ours.  Like Jack and Eden seem to be willing to face.

We need our men to be men and realize their opportunity to be heroes. We need our women to be strong enough to let our men be heroes and still understand that they’re not God. Neither were our Dads. It’s time to cast off the baggage of anyone else’s paradigm, jettison the stages of unfortunately human childhood hurts, and fully realize that we do have a Super hero who can do all things — inside and out. He fully arms us to be His super heroes here on Earth.  Amazing right? (I didn’t say “easy.” I said “amazing.”)

Today may we each stand vertically, put on the armor, and fly with the confidence that comes from inviting our amazing and powerful God to lead the way.

..”and gave gifts to His people…”