Justice League

I've always been a sucker for superhero teams - Avengers; Titans; Runaways; JSA; Teen Titans and of course the Astonishing, Amazing & Uncanny X-Men. But my favourite is the Justice League of America. It is kind of like the Real Madrid of the DC Universe. More often than not each incarnation of the team has included the iconic 'Big Three' (Superman; Batman; Wonder Woman) combined with other classic DC characters (The Flash; Green Lantern; Green Arrow; Aquaman) and many others too.

They are a team of fantastic individuals. They are powerful beyond imagination - yet only together, with the whole greater than the sum of the parts - can they defeat various threats to the world (or universe) (or multi-verse).

In one of my favourite JLA stories is the Pinocchio-esque tale of 'Tornado's Path' by Brad Meltzer in which Batman, Superman and Wonder look at reforming the team after the Infinite Crisis event.

Batman, the shrewd tactician, is intent on forming a perfect team - every skill and power present, every threat covered, full of experience and ability. But in the end they end up with a team of heroes who 'happened' to be involved in the 'Tornado's Path' story. Which annoys Batman until he is reminded that is how the team originally formed - when a group of heroes happened to gather round a disaster.

The team isn't who Batman would pick. It has holes. It has inexperience. It has relational issues. But sometimes the best team is not the one you would pick; it is the one that is there.

In my life I have sent up many prayers for better drummers/guitarists/singers/sound engineers. And that isn't wrong (I don't think!) but if my only plan to go forward is to get in 'better people' then when 'better people' leave we are left short and without a plan B.

The lessons I need to learn are more to do with the valuing and releasing of who is here already rather than looking to acquire new talent from outside. Embracing the creativity of our teams is key to their development and our collective growth.

Perhaps God does has have others He wants to bring to our teams but we need to be careful that our prayers don't slip into the realms of telling God that the people and resources He has given us aren't good enough. He doesn't make mistakes. I need to believe that.

I love Paul's beautiful imagery of the 'Body of Christ' in 1 Corinthians 12:

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

It speaks of how our diversity is not just important or preferable - it is essential. It is God's perfect intention. Team is not optional - it is a necessity of the very design of the Church.

Before I pray for better people I need to seek to honour the people we already have. Sometimes the best team is the one that is there.

dg