Surviving Chaos

Luke 15:11-32

Have you been to Wal-Mart lately? I have to admit, it is one of my favorite places to go for sermon ideas. Anyways, if you pay any attention to the subtle advertisements plastered around the store I am sure you have seen the following sign. It’s blue with a Superman logo in the center and it reads, “My Dad, My Hero”.

As I began to prepare for this weeks sermon on Super Heroes, I saw the sign and was infected with a crazy idea. I found a department head and begged for one of her signs. I then went to craft section and got some satin fabric and headed home.

MaryEllen has known me for over a decade, so very few ideas that come out of my mind surprise her. So when I asked her to make me a Superman Cape, she shrugged her shoulders and with a smile on her face, she measured the fabric. Within ten minutes, I had a fabulous cape for my Sunday morning sermon.

The surprise of my congregation is another story. I had the sound tech play the Superman Theme as I flaunted my Superman Cape. As the music played, I flew around the sanctuary (well as much as a 300lbs man can fly). I could here the gasps of concern, the chuckle of disbelief coming from my flock. I, though a bit self conscious, was enjoying myself.

Why would I enable myself to become humiliated like I did? Because I had to make a point. Dad’s are worth making fools of ourselves for. I mean what father hasn’t wished their child would look at his with as much awe as Superman or some other Super Hero? Being a father, I know the best feeling in the world is when I’m interacting with another child and mine all of a sudden gets jealous because someone else has his father’s attention. I know it sounds wrong but it’s the truth.

As I prepared for Sunday’s sermon, I wondered if my father had the same feelings I do as he was raising me. The fact that there were ties when I pushed him away for the attention of my mother. The fact that I was a “know-it-all” child. I mean my father wasn’t perfect. But I can honestly say he was my hero. I may not have always looked to him but I always looked up to him. And now as a Father myself, I realize that I will make mistakes because I’m not perfect. But I also realize that my main responsibility as a father is to reflect my heavenly father. If I am doing that correctly, then I have a good chance of being a Super Hero in my own children’s eyes.