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

Cyclops

Cyclops' power is in his eyes. He is capable of a devastating 'optic blast' - one of the most powerful weapons in the whole 'Marvel' universe - destroying sentinels and enemies.

Our eyes are also one of our greatest weapons; seeing things as they really are; knowing the true value of others; appreciating what we have. These things are power. Power to defeat lies and deception. Power to bring the Kingdom.

Jesus has this unusual concern that we become like children:

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18:16-17)

The way a child approaches the world is key to Kingdom living - trusting, creative, innocent, curious, teachable, grateful, joyful... the list could be endless. But so many of these traits are characteristic of children because of the way they see the world. They are not swamped with the politics and one-up-manship of adult life. They're not confined by traditions and the way things have always been done. Every gift is received gladly. Every day is full of learning. They do not believe they know it all. They are intrinsically trusting. They cannot help but create, discover, imagine and dream. More often than not, they see the value of people.

There is power in our eyes but only if we choose to have the eyes of a child.

dg

Blackest Night

Mystique

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Our lives today are so disparate. We have families. Work colleagues. Old school friends. Church friends. Those we meet in the school playground when we drop of our kids. We have those we know from the gym or the club or the pub.

And to each of those groups we may present ourselves a different person. One that is clever or funny or holy. Often our work colleagues would not recognise the person we are at home and that person isn't half as good or holy as the person we are on a sunday.

A different person for a different place.

Mystique is a villain from the X-Men series. She is a 'shape shifter'; she can change her form to appear like anyone else. She is an expert at covert work and being a double or even a triple agent. But no-one knows the real Mystique; Raven Darkhölme. Not even her children - with whom she has troubled relationships to say the least.

God describes himself to Moses as "I AM". God always is who God always is. It is impossible for Him to be inconsistent or self-contradictory. He is not a capricious God.

Part of becoming more like Him is to become more consistent. More reliable. More dependable. It is one of the reasons Jesus implores His disciples to "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'" in Matthew 5. The world can only work on the basis of trust. If we do not trust each other we cannot function. If we are untrustworthy then we will find it hard, or even impossible, to build anything substantial. A man's word is still his bond - even if our society seeks to replace such things with legally binding contracts.

Will I be a shape shifter; changing who I am to meet my needs and get my own way?

Or will I be a rock; consistent, reliable and authentic?

"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation." James 5:12

dg

Superman

I always enjoyed the Superman stories/films/tv shows etc. but I never really loved them... I never really connected with the character.... The most powerful man on the planet who was also a total puritan hero... and he was too, well, 'American' for me to truly love.... i'd rather of had a dark and conflicted Batman any day.... and there are too many Jesus/Messiah ideas floating around the character for him to be engaging.

Recently though I've read a few stories where Superman has relied on his friends (the Alan Moore stories - 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow' and 'What do you get the man who has everything?', a Superman/Batman story by Jeph Loeb and various Justice League stories). 

And I've been surprised by how my view of Superman has changed....  he has a weakness other than 'Kryptonite'! - He wants to save everyone... and he wants to do it himself. 

Superman usually relates to Hercules in Greek Mythology - but in the stories I've been reading recently he has more of an air of Atlas - the man who is carrying the world upon his shoulders. He has the power to rescue everyone so he feels like he must rescue everyone. But not even Superman can do it all himself; he has greater success when he relies on and uses his friends - both those who are superheroes and those who are not.

In the book of Numbers we hear Moses cry out to the Lord because he is exhausted from leading the people

"Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? ....I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:11&14)

We may find ourselves in similar situations - that burden maybe leadership in church or the workplace or even in the family - where the weight of the responsibility is totally crushing. And in that place we so often pray one of two things: either 'Lord, give me more strength' or 'Take the burden from me'.

They are not necessarily the wrong prayers - more strength is always good and even Jesus prayed 'take this cup away from me'. But there is a third option.

And the Lord chose this third way to deal with Moses' problem

"Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take off the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone." (Numbers 11:16-17)

He could have given him more strength or he could have taken the burden off of him completely... but he chose a third way... he sent others to share it. Often this is not our first choice of dealing with burdens - we either want to escape or we want to play Superman and rescue everyone ourselves. 

No-one can do it all on their own, not even Superman.

Will I try and be a Superman or will I let the Batmans, Wonder Womans, Green Lanterns and Robins help me take the strain?

dg

The Incredible Hulk

Anger. 

It is often called 'the red mist'. For Bruce Banner it is more green than red. His muscles bulge, his face snarls, his clothes rip. He becomes the Incredible Hulk.

It seems to me there are a lot of Bruce Banners walking around today - if you make a mistake whilst driving you're likely to be met be a torrent of swearing and digit flicking - if you glance at someone a little too long you might get a 'whatchyoolookin'at?' - if you're a waitress or shop assistant barely a day goes by when you don't feel the self righteous indignation of a customer that hasn't got exactly what they wanted.

A degree of respect and politeness has dissipated from our society and it has been replaced with a bubbling anger that rests just beneath the surface of many people. It only takes an insignificant incident for the blood to boil, the eyes to redden and the bulging green muscles of the Hulk to burst forth.

In the long history of the Incredible Hulk when he becomes the Hulk out of anger alone he causes as much damage and as he does good. He is a super hero only when he can reign the anger in and focus on what needs to be done. When he simply reacts in a rage  he leaves devastation - which is why he is always pursued by the police and the army. He can only ever 'save the day' when he can get his head straight and uses his incredible strength for good.

Proverbs has a few things to say about anger:

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (29:11)

For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. (30:33)

It is so easy to respond to injustice, stupidity, cruelty, selfishness, greed and all types of evil with anger. It is easy. Natural. Anyone can do that.

It is much harder to treat those things - and their perpetrators  - with love and self-control. Much harder. 

"Ah... but Jesus got angry - clearing the temple" I hear you say. 

Maybe.

Without doubt Jesus' actions resemble actions of anger - turning over tables and driving people out. Though the gospels never suggest that Jesus' motivation was anger, even a righteous anger. Also I think we would have to say that Jesus' actions were planned - it is not like He hadn't been to the Temple hundreds of times before without going crazy. 

Why was it that day did He chose to make a stand? - because it was a prophetic sign of his wider mission - the coming Kingdom clearing away a tainted and misguided religiosity. It certainly wasn't an unplanned, unintended rage that we are constantly guilty of giving in to.

Jesus said this about anger:

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment (Matt 5:22)

Anger often belies our own deeper problems - insecurity, unforgiveness, selfishness. It is a symptom of our own sense of displacement or isolation or feeling that we are peripheral characters in the theater of life. 

In Paul's famous explanation of love in 1 Corinthians 13 he states that love "...is not easily angered". And that is key - to be loving, we need to do not that which is easy, but that which is hard, making sure our reactions do not subvert our intentions.

... saying all that, the Hulk makes anger look pretty cool. Where did I leave my gamma ray machine?

dg

Rorschach

The violent, vigilante of the Watchmen comics isn't exactly a hero. 

Alan Moore wanted to explore what a real 'Batman' type vigilante would be like and what he would believe in. His answer? 

"a nutcase"

His extreme right wing views and moral absolutism make him an unsympathetic protagonist. He fiercely adheres to his black white view of the world; of good and evil. He is merciless and he is brutal. 

So I am not suggesting him as a role model.

But there is one facet of his character that fascinates me; his refusal to compromise what he believes to be right

Nite-Owl: Rorschach...? Rorschach, wait! Where are you going? This is too big to be hard-assed about! We have to compromise!
Rorschach: No. Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise.

"Not even in the face of Armageddon." - his words remind me of Job:

I will never admit you are in the right;
till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it;
my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live (Job 27:5)

Of course compromise is a regular part of life and relationships-  you can't have what you want, all of the time - but it is one thing to compromise your desires and another thing entirely to compromise your values.

The dictionary defines 'Values' as: a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life.  If you don't stand for what is important then you do not stand at all.

So many people are willing to sacrifice what they believe to be right in the name of peace or unity. But what use is peace and unity when what you are doing is wrong?

Integrity is everything. It allows you authority and authenticity. It makes your voice louder and your words stronger. Right ideas are not enough; they must be backed with right actions.

Proverbs 13 states: 

The integrity of the upright guides them,
But the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

The compromise of values will always end up in ruin. Even if you achieve short term success or harmony - eventually the duplicity will bite you on the backside. 

In his last journal entry Rorschach writes:

For my own part, regret nothing. Have lived life, free from compromise ... and step into the shadow now without complaint

I hope as I look back on my life and my walk with God I can view my journey as one of integrity and honesty

dg

The Green Lantern

Since 1940 the mantle of 'The Green Lantern' and his 'Power Ring' has been held by a number of characters from the DC universe. The Green Lanterns themselves are powerless - but the ring of power that they have been entrusted with  "gives the user great control over the physical world as long as the wielder has sufficient willpower and strength to wield it."

There becomes no limit to his abilities. 

"Each Green Lantern wields a power ring that can generate a variety of effects, sustained purely by the ring wearer's strength of will. The greater the user's willpower, the more effective the ring. The limits of the power ring's abilities are not clearly defined and it has been referred to as "the most powerful weapon in the universe" on more than one occasion. Across the years, the ring has been shown capable of accomplishing anything within the imagination of the ring bearer"

The only limit is his imagination. Nothing more. Anything he can conceive can be achieved in an instant. The ring allows him infinite power and compels him to use it for good.

"Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20-21)

Jesus tells his disciples (that's us, people) that 'nothing will be impossible' for us. I find it disconcerting that He says 'for you'. He doesn't say  'Nothing will be impossible for me'  or 'through me'  or 'with me'. Does Jesus needs to have a look at His theology? Surely it's never US who do anything? Or is it?

We are not limited by our imaginations in the same way the Green Lantern is. But Jesus tells us we are limited by our faith. He is not suggesting that it is our power that can achieve these things - equally the Green Lantern's power is not his own; it is the ring's - but it is the limitations of our faith that preclude us from experiencing more of the 'impossible'.

Often I wonder why I have the faith of a mountain but I can't move a mustard seed? 

There can feel like a big disconnect between what I believe can happen and what I see occurring. Part of that is the 'now but not yet' of the Kingdom of God - but I suspect that the disconnect between my beliefs and my experiences are as great as I would think. 

Maybe I get exactly what I truly believe.

If my view of God was bigger or my faith in His power, provision and purposes greater would I see more of the 'impossible'? I think so. I think that was Jesus is trying to tell us.

...and I shall shed my light over dark evil.

For the dark things cannot stand the light,
The light of the Green Lantern!

(The Green Lantern's oath)

dg