hero

Growing up male offers many luxuries when it comes to heroes.

I can remember plenty of adventures in the backyard, on the school playground, and as I rode my bike through the streets of our neighborhood imagining I was one of the several heroes I looked up to.  Whether it was wanting to have all the gadgets and cool car like Batman, the claws and healing powers of Wolverine, or super strength like my dad seemed to have.  If it made me run faster, jump higher, and somehow get the girl-I wanted it.

This love of the hero never decreased as I grew up.  You would imagine that once a man reached a certain age, the time of longing to have infinite strength, fly around from place to place, or have a cave full of gadgets would dissipate.  To the contrary, this longing does the opposite-it intensifies.  The desire to be the hero only transforms over time.  Instead of wanting to be a the character seen in the latest comic book, men turn to characters in history-based movies. (I use the term "history-based" loosely) Men like Leonidas, the Spartan king, Jeremiah Johnson, the manly outdoorsman, or almost everyone's favorite William Wallace, the warrior poet who helped free Scotland.

All these men and characters ignite in us a desire to be and do something greater than ourselves.  It is something that is near to the heart of every man.  Yet, as I think of all these characters, all of whom I'd still love to emulate in some way, I can't help but think that my longing are off as to who to be like.  As I think of Jesus, as a man, I can't help but think; "What better hero to strive to be like?".

We often have this misconception that Jesus was this meager and frail man that never raised His voice above a whisper and wouldn't be caught dead making the most of life.  Instead, we see a man that was in amongst the people of His day where he ate, drank, partied, and loved them where they were.  He addressed need, sought justice, loved, and even raised His voice, and a little cain with it.  Heck, I'd be willing to bet, if He had bothered He could have gotten the girl. (keep in mind He was not married, nor did He father children or bother with any of that despite what Tom Hanks says in any movie where he has creepy sort-long hair)  He exemplifies all the characteristics of what a man should be.  He was a dynamic leader, He gave of Himself sacrificially in all He did, and acted out of nothing but love and glory for God.


In the end, that's the hero I want to be like.
Chances are I'll never lead an army to victory in a great battle that will be remembered throughout history, I may not give an inspirational speech that will inspire generations after me, I may not get the girl, and, despite my dreams at night, I may never get the chance to lead the resistance against the zombie and/or machine apocalypse.  Despite this, my ultimate desire is to be the ultimate man and hero in living as Christ lived.  Because when it all is said and done, what better path to follow than that of the man that saved the day, once and for all.




-peace