I Need a Hero

Last week, Aliyah and I watched Nim's Island, a movie about a girl, Nim, who lives on a remote island in the South Pacific with her father and animal friends. Though the only humans on the island, Nim and her father are in communication with the rest of the world through satellite internet.

One day the father, a marine biologist, sails off for a specimen gathering trip, but a storm prevents his return. After a couple of days Nim, frightened and lonely, e-mails her favorite adventure writer, Alex Rover, to come to the island to help her. Little does she know (fans of Stranger Than Fiction should appreciate that phrase) that Alex is actually a fiction writer suffering from agoraphobia, too scared to ever leave her house.

Anyway, Alex finally convinces herself to go to the girl's aid. As she faces one fear after another, she says to herself, "I can't be the hero of my own life story."  Nim, about the same, says the same thing, "I can't be the hero of my own life story."

***warning: spoilers ahead***

Alex finally reaches the island, still wondering how on earth she can help this girl. What happens next is a radical reversal of expected hero roles. Nim discovers Alex washed up on the beach and rescues her, bitterly disappointed in her hero.

Later, as they sadly watch the empty horizon, Alex feels completely helpless. She can not find Nim's father, nor can she assure her that everything will be ok. So finally she puts her arm around Nim and says, "I promise that, whatever happens, you will not be alone." She is Nim's hero simply through her gift of presence.

What does a hero look like?  Do we need to radically adjust our picture of a hero?

Jesus already did that, of course. What kind of a hero is poor, homeless, peace-loving, and faces suffering and death calmly, with open arms even? What kind of a hero brings new life to others simply through sharing a meal with them?

He is the hero of my life story as well as the model of how I can be a hero.

What is your hero call?

Race Day

Today was my first race of the season. I use the word "race" loosely, of course, as I'm more about completing than competing. I am proud to say that I ran, or jogged, the whole distance, and was beat by only one jog stroller.

Today was also my daughter's first race. She made it about 3/4 of a mile before persuading my mother, who was walking with her, to turn around. As they were the first to arrive at the finish line, she's convinced she won. More importantly, she made it to the donuts in time to find one with chocolate icing and sprinkles.

Today's race benefited Oceans of Mercy, a ministry that provides, "hope , life and love to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. The popularity of the 5K walk/run as a fund-raiser never ceases to amaze me. Make a general plea for money to benefit a cause, even a very admirable one, and the response is usually lukewarm. Ask people to give money AND show up early on a cold, windy Saturday morning to run further than half of us do in any given week, and willing participants show up in the thousands. In cases like Race for the Cure (my first 5K), by the tens of thousands.

What does this say about us? Do we just enjoy pain and suffering? Do we have nothing better to do on a Saturday morning? Is it really that hard to find a running buddy? Are the free bananas and oranges that enticing?

Maybe we just need to feel the give. For most of us, honestly, $20 is not that big of a deal. Our budget wouldn't even notice the difference. But we need to notice. So if we give $20 in conjunction with an event that requires preparation and training, pulls us out of bed at an indecent hour, and stretches our abilities, then maybe we'll take it more seriously. And we need to take the suffering of millions of children seriously.

So join me for race day on September 27 at Sacred Steps to provide care for hundreds of women and orphans in Africa affected by HIV/AIDS. If you've never run a race before, you can find a detailed training guide that will prep you in just 6 weeks. That gives you plenty of time to talk yourself into it, then find a few good friends to convince, as well. Because crazy new goals are infinitely more fun with friends.

Meeting Agendas

So, yesterday afternoon a large contingent from our congregation met at Roe Park for an intense game of kickball, youth vs. adults. The scorekeeper claimed it was a tie game, but I'm sure I counted at least one more run for the adults... ah, if only I hadn't dropped that fly ball (and Karsen, don't ask which drop I'm talking about).

The best part of the game, and the whole afternoon, was how much we laughed, cheered, and sweat together. We learned things about each other (who knew Shannon was competitive enough to risk his own life?) and we easily forgave each other (ok, back to my dropped fly balls).

I'm struck by how much playing together can create, enhance, and restore relationships. So, I propose that every meeting from now on begin and end in play. It doesn't have to be kickball, though that's hard to beat, but it does need to be fun, lighthearted, and give Shannon an opportunity slide in the dirt.