When
I was a child I had visions of being Super Man.
A real American hero who would out perform any Olympic track star (“faster than a speeding bullet,” etc.),
stand up against evil and uphold the American way, and save damsels from
distress (there was only one girl of
interest on my block and she was the object of my 8 year old desire).
The
television shows about Super Hero’s fueled my passion and my dreams and the
comic strips and books of the late 1950’s gave me reading material for late at
night. I played Super Hero games in the
orchards, at the neighbors, and around the “block” that I lived on. I had a cloak of invisibility or cape,
anti-gravity boots, a cool costume, and a mask to hide my Super identity. I was in every way a Super Hero and my mother’s
smirky smile just confirmed my ever growing confidence level.
I
guess I wanted to be significant, to do something significant, and to leave a
significant impact upon my world (which
was made up of one city block in Springfield, Michigan). I wanted the younger kids like George, Tom, Donnie,
Phil and Steve to look up to me and to want to do the things that I had done or
was in the process of doing. At that age,
the dirtiness of sin or ego hadn’t really corrupted my motives --- I really
wanted my block to be a good place for a kid to grow up and play … and for
families to enjoy life.
So
I flew, I ran, I fought the shadows, and I developed skills that would enhance
my ability in this cause. And today … I
still want to be a Super Hero to some kid, some younger person, or some young
Christian who wants to make a difference.
But now I am very aware of my limitations and humanity … I’m older and I
don’t fly as high as I used to, I run … but in too many directions, while
physically stronger now … I have far more enemies and villains to fight then I
used to, and my skills often grow rusty from the damp spirit of complacency
that creeps over me like a morning fog.
But
my desire is still there … I still want to be a Super Hero … I still want to
make a difference … and I still hear the approving voice … not just from my 92
year old mother but from my never-aging eternal Father.
I
hope that as you age … and mature … that you stay childlike in your dreams and
desires and listen to the voices that approve of you as a Super Hero.
Fly
High! Run Fast! Fight Hard! Keep developing and using the skills to
impact your world! And most of all find
a younger person and inspire them to do likewise.
