I just finished watching season one of Heroes on DVD. It's not your typical show about people with superhuman power. These aren't people dressing up in capes and tights, these are people trying to pay rent and make sense out of the hand life has dealt them and, oh yeah, some of them can walk through walls or travel through time or heal from almost any injury.
Central to the first season is the knowledge of coming disaster in the form of a nuclear explosion that will destroy half of New York. The questions that drive the action are basically spiritual questions: Can the future be changed? What is my responsibility to the world around me? Who is my family? Who can I trust? How do I become the hero I'm meant to be? What is true power?
Early on, a messenger from the future brings a cryptic mission to one of the main characters - "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World." This cause and effect statement seems so incongruous it's almost laughable. The hero is sent on a mission to rescue a young girl 1500 miles away, seemingly unconnected to the impending disaster, but, in fact, turns out to be the lynchpin to history.
This reflects a profound truth about our faith. How do we save the world? One cheerleader, one tax accountant, one plumber, one assembly line worker at a time. We are tempted to believe that we have to have a powerful job or a lot of money to effect change, but the truth at the heart of Heroes is that it is the small things that count.
Jesus lived this spiritual truth. Though he was tempted in the desert to wield power to dominate or enthrall the masses, he instead took the path of service meeting people individually at their point of need. He was an unconventional hero. He didn't raise an army, he didn't run for office, he didn't have a fortune, but he did have compassion.
Be a hero. Save the world. Your opportunity is closer than you think.
[Heroes contains some graphic material that may not be suitable for young or sensitive viewers.]