Natural and Supernatural

Everyone of us wants to be someone's Superman. From the moment we figure out how to ride a bicycle with one hand (or climb a tree or do a penny-drop off the monkey bars) we have been calling out, "look at me, look at me." We said it to anyone who would listen, but we saved our loudest shouts for attention for our parents; "Look at me, Dad." The truth is, many of us live our whole lives with that particular phrase still calling out of our subconscious.

And then we have a family and every eye is on us at all times. What will dad do? How will he act? How will he react? How well does he support the family? Can I spend any time with him? Does he live by what he says he believes? And the dream has finally come true. Someone is watching--all the time. They are "looking at me."

As a man transforming I am trying to keep several things in mind as they watch. Here's a couple of the highlights:

• They care more about what I am doing when I DON'T ask them to watch me. When we were kids we would get the stunt ready and then ask for people to watch. But my wife rightfully cares a lot more about what I do and how I live in between stunts.
• If I am not transforming they will not be transformed. In other words, if it's all about talk, nobody will change. They need to SEE the change in ME before they understand what change is all about.
• The most supernatural powers are in my everyday character (as Jesus shines through). Who cares if I can provide a good living if I can't play with my kids? Who cares if I enter some Hall of Fame if my kids never really knew me. Who cares if I affect change at the corporate level if I wasn't patient with my wife? Nobody. But everybody important to me is watching. (In 1 Corinthians 13, Scripture says (paraphrased) who cares if you can move a mountain (like Superman)? What people really need is for you to move a mountain WITH LOVE. Then you have something.)
  

It's ironic to me that many homes are broken or hurting because all eyes are finally on the boy wonder (sorry, I didn't mean to change metaphors). As all eyes are on superman between stunts pressure mounts. Then some go looking to be superman for someone who is not looking so closely. Some come to the conclusion that they can be someone's saver if others just don't expect too much and don't look too closely. Maybe that's why Superman was always making a getaway after the save.

I want to invite the people closest to me to examine me more closely and know me better.

So one of my goals for this summer is to focus on my own submission to God in the area of my character. I want to talk less and listen more. I want to think less of my own needs and really think about the needs of my wife and kids and neighbors. I want to make time for celebrations of others--not just myself.

If I give less and less of my own attempts to impress this world, maybe this man transforming will be somebody's superman.

All of this poetry, of course, hinges on the one thing: the one and only Savior truly living in me to make me a man transformed.