Who do you consider a hero? Do you think of the great comic books heroes like Superman or Wonder Woman? Do you admire fantasy heroes such as Harry Potter or Hermione Granger? Do Star Wars characters like Luke Skywalker and Yoda or Princess Leia spark your interest? There are many great examples of what many would call heroes in popular culture. Billions of dollars have been made in books, movies, memorabilia, and attractions in our attempt to bask in the glow of so many heroes. Yet as I walk in these days that God has given to me, I have not met Iron Man, Professor Minerva McGonagall or Han Solo in person.
I have met a few heroes but they are not the ones who have t-shirts available for sale at the local shops. The heroes I know are brave men and women who day after day do the work that needs to be done to take care of their families and homes. They are the people who trust that God will provide as God has promised to. These heroes include the neighbors that face whatever a day brings with grace and courage. I know that you have met some of these heroes too. You might even be one. Before you dismiss this last sentence, I invite you to consider why I might say that you are a hero. St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1: 26-27—Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God likes the underdog. God likes to surprise the kingdom by redefining what it is to be strong and brave and heroic. God takes ordinary people and places them in extraordinary situations and furthers the gifts of the kingdom through their work and witness. God uses people like you and I and God has done so for generations. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, by a great host of heroes. This summer we are going to spend some time talking about and studying some unlikely heroes from our Bible Stories. We will hear about twelve men and women whom God called from ordinary places and situations. They are heroes because they believed in the Lord and acted on that faith. Perhaps in doing so, you and I can be inspired to see everyday heroes. We can witness them doing extraordinary things because of the faith and life given by God. God, our Creator and Redeemer, the true hero. When we put our our trust in God, we will never be disappointed.
