I Need a Hero
I WATCHED the movie 'Cinderella Man' the other day. It's based on
the true story of James J. Braddock, a boxer who comes from poverty and
obscurity to become a source of hope for many of those caught up in the
American Depression of the 1930s. In other popular movies, based on fact or
fiction, the need for a hero is a common theme - from Star Wars and Spiderman
to Lord of the Rings and even Shrek.
It's a familiar theme in music too. Some time ago Bonnie Tyler sang of her need of a hero, and more recently Bering Strait released 'I Could Use A Hero' which opened with the lines: "Who will rescue my heart? Whowill save my soul? Who will give me strength? Fill my cup with hope?". Whether our heroes are mythical or real, they can nonetheless inspire us and lift us from the humdrum of life.
There is, however, a danger associated with our obsession with heroes - the possibility of living our lives vicariously and allowing these heroes to fulfil all of our hopes and dreams for us. We can be distracted by these superhuman feats and fail to realise that we too can be heroes in the lives of our families and communities. Mother Teresa said "We can do no great things - only small things, with great love" and her life and the cumulative effect of countless acts of kindness to the needy in Calcutta demonstrate the truth of these words in action.
The 1st November is All Saints Day. At Lode Chapel we don't normally make a big thing of such dates - but this year I've been challenged about heroes of the faith. Ordinary people who have been inspired by the great love of Jesus (a real hero), and who in turn have become an extraordinary inspiration to others.
Love can turn a parent into a hero in the eyes of their child, and love can transform situations of despair into places of hope. Who is there in your life at the moment who is saying "I need a hero"? Our world needs heroes, that's for sure, but perhaps the heroism its longs for is people like you and me performing small acts of great love each and every day.