A hero in the sky . . .and everywhere
by LeRoy the Tramp
Superman is back!
The Man of Steel is attracting all kinds of attention as he soars through movie theaters, skips across television talk shows – and sinks deep into our minds.
He captures our national imagination in a most special way.
Superman strums a catchy tune on a wire in our brains – the one we came equipped with that wants to be good, wants to do good – and wants to believe in a higher power.
There are some interesting parallels between Superman and Jesus Christ. I’m not sure they are coincidental. Regardless, the periodic return of a fictional Superman to American culture provides opportunity to talk about the real being - Jesus.
Superman and all his powers were ushered into existence – on paper at least – as a result of active use of that most powerful of human capabilities – the imagination. The Superman character was developed by two guys in Cleveland, Ohio, back in 1938, when an evil menace in Europe was starting to cause nightmares across an ocean.
Superman has always had special powers. They’ve gotten more “super” over time, as his character has faced stronger challenges. At one time, Superman was earthbound and was vulnerable to poison gas. Today, he can fly through the sun and reverse earth’s rotation! If it needs to be done, his writers make him just powerful enough to get it done.
Superman’s powers set him apart. But Superman’s greater appeals are who he is and what he lives out. “Truth, justice and the American way” is what Superman stands for. He is an immigrant – from another world – who came to America and made it. Big time.
He grew up in small-town America, but today he is the strongest of America’s comic book heroes – the closest to indestructible, the closest to incorruptible. His writers killed him once. But he came back.
Perhaps, in modern American culture, Superman is a bridge of sorts – a bridge between man and a God who to many is beyond the imagination.
There is indeed a gap between God and man. It is so many light years across that not even Superman could cross it during his lifetime.
But God sent His only Son, Jesus, to show us the way to cross the gap, to get back to the God that our minds have a homing device for. Jesus IS the Way and the Light. He crosses all distances and knocks down all barriers. He is way beyond super. He is. . .almighty. . .and beyond that, I haven’t sufficient flow of descriptive speech.
Jesus will come again. And He will be at full power! He wins! The Bible tells us that He triumphs over the most evil menace in all history.
We have become a visual society and that, I think, is part of the reason Superman’s powers have appeal. Jesus’ next trip to earth will be the light show to end them all. No one will have to guess at what’s happening. All will know. Every knee will bend.
At least one of the actors who has portrayed Superman lived out at least a portion of his character even stronger in real life. After his equestrian accident paralyzed him from the neck down, Christopher Reeve became a galvanizing model of human courage. He demonstrated what power we all can have if we just put our most powerful gift – the mind – to work.
The present movie Superman, Norwalk native Brandon Routh, told an interviewer that if we were all like Superman, the world would be a better place.
Probably . . .but we can do even better than Superman.
The Bible says we have the mind of Christ and if we’re believers, we’re filled with the Holy Spirit.
We just need to tap the power that God has put in all of us. And it’s real power, not fictional.
We will tap in for sure, for a thousand years, when Christ comes again to rule. But you don’t have to wait. Jesus spells it out in the Gospels, which are just . . .super! He’s coming. You can tap in by asking Him to come into your heart.
If you’re looking for a hero, you can read about Him in the Bible. You can look up in the sky if you want – but He’s everywhere.
LeRoy The Tramp’s latest book is “So THAT’S it!” It’s about finding success and fulfillment through balance in life. For more information, click on Books by LuLu & LeRoy on left side of page.
LeRoy the Tramp is a Christian clown and family entertainer. He writes articles for various Christian web sites and also has a regular Christian newspaper column. He has been a newspaper columnist, editor and reporter for more than 35 years. He also has on-the-air newscasting and sportscasting experience in local radio and TV. He lives in Montezuma, Iowa with his wife, who also is his clown partner in The Kingdom Klowns of Iowa. Visit his website at www.clownsiniowa.com.
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LuLu and LeRoy, the Kingdom Klowns of Iowa
www.clownsiniowa.com