Momentary Superhero

Wintery, blustery gusts of wind; salty ocean water spray tingling our faces; gray and white clouds moving swiftly over choppy, turbulent storm swells. Jaden on his red "Firestorm" 2-wheeler (with training wheels); me with the while Styrofoam glider, complete with bright orange and red stickers hand-stuck by Jaden himself.

Saturday morning between the storms (so it seems!). We live just down the street from "The Cove"--or Sunny Cove, as some call it. This is the beach I spent a LOT of my summers (and the rest of the year) on when I was in High School. Great spot. I love it!

Jaden got off his bike and I parked it next to a massive Cypress tree, using the partially exposed roots as a bike stand. Off with the shiny black "Hot Wheels" bicycle (actually skateboard) helmet and on our way down the still rain-soaked, terra-cotta colored cliff to the sand below. Winter beach! In other words, not much beach to speak of.

Jaden puts his finger to the side of the cliff, touching the tiny streams of water gravity insists on pulling down to the cool, wet sand below. The wind isn't as strong down here...but enough to give some serious lift to the glider--and cause it to do some pretty sweets loops. I climb up on the cliff to give the glider an even better chance at gaining altitude. I pull back my arm, then launch it forward, and RELEASE! The light-weight plane takes off and begins its first of two maneuvers: the loop and the sharp right-hand turn. It's a great moment...until it lands in the surf below. "Oh no, Daddy; my plane's in da watuh!!!" "It's ok! I'll get it, Jaden!"

Of course, it's winter and I'm not dressed for the surf. So, off with the shoes and socks, up with the legs of my jeans, and into the water! I managed to get the fuselage without too much difficulty...but where are the wings? They come out too easily. "Over there!" Some folks in a Volkswagen Westfalia on the cliff have spotted one of the wings. A couple more attempts and a soaked left pant-leg and I've got 'em! Both wings are in my grasp. My friends on the cliff cheer. I give them a thumbs up and shout "THANKS!"

I'm a superhero...for a moment. (At least in my own mind; Jaden didn't actually say anything but I did rescue his plane. Never mind that I was the one who launched it into the water in the first place!)

Then I had a thought. My friends on the cliff--they could see something I couldn't see. Perspective. They had a view I didn't have. From the beach, the white foam wings didn't stand out much from the the white foam-capped water in which they floated (at least they floated!) God's got great perspective for our lives. That's one of the reasons He's so good at helping us. Friends have a unique perspective, as well. They, too, can see things in us we can't see. That's what I want for my life: A God and friends who can see what I can't...and who lovingly draw my attention to it. That's what I want to be for my sons, too. A dad who will help them to see what they don't see. That's superhero stuff in my mind. We don't have to rescue someone from a burning building. We just need to be available for God to use us to help someone see what they can't see on their own. You never know; it could mean the difference between being lost...and found.

That's Kingdom.