Disappointing Heroes
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
We live in an age where heroes often do little more than set us up for disappointment. Steve Jobs’ own daughter called him a rotten person. Religious leaders have let us down with their sexual or financial misconduct. I will not even begin to talk about celebrities or our political leaders. Heroes seem to be a reminder of our naive childhood.
We live in a society that tends to build people up, only to watch them fall. The paparazzi often prioritize the shock value of a story over its truth because shock sells. It becomes challenging for mere mortals, in our sinfulness, to live up to the inappropriate expectations placed on those who try to do good. Too often, those who try to do good are lifted up, but when the person’s inevitable shortcomings are found, the hero becomes the goat.
Rather than remain in this depressive pity party, perhaps we come to the wise realization that heroes are no longer possible in contemporary society. Instead, we should leave our heroes on our movie screens or Marvel comic books. Instead, we should focus on normal people doing kind, selfless, humble acts. By avoiding hero language, we can celebrate the truly amazing actions of regular people like you.
When we do something good, kind, or caring, we aren’t being heroic; we are doing what God intended. It shouldn’t be extraordinary or superhuman; it should be normal, natural, and part of our routine. It shows how detached we are from the divine that meaningful actions are considered somehow heroic. God gives us opportunities throughout each day to respond with divine care. To be good, we do not need to be extraordinary; we need to listen to God’s still small voice. The more we prayerfully listen, the more God works in and through us. It isn’t heroic, it is simply faithful. God doesn’t need superheroes, just disciples. It is a relief we do not need to wear a cape; we just need to listen intently to the Holy Spirit, who is speaking to us every minute of every day. Listening and responding can be our superpower.
