March 29 Bible Reading Plan

"A hero can be anyone — even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hadn't ended.”

-Bruce Wayne, The Dark Knight Rises

Batman. The story of Bruce Wayne—a man with everything—money, fame, prestige, and power. Yet, as with all great origin stories, Batman is filled with tragedy. Haunted by the murder of his parents by the criminal element in Gotham, Bruce Wayne struggles with his own demons. No version shows this aspect of his life better than the Batman Trilogy starring Christian Bale.

In this series of movies, we meet Bruce Wayne as a child. We witnessed his parents' shooting as the family was going to the theatre. Later that night, we see Bruce Wayne as a petrified and grief-stricken child waiting in a police station.

That's when we meet another hero, Jim Gordon, at the beginning of his career as a police officer. Seeing the broken child, Officer Gordon kneels beside him and comforts him, placing a coat around his shoulders and telling him, "It's going to be okay." (2)

At that moment, we see the origin story of the two heroes in the Dark Knight series.

There is no doubt that there are two heroes in this story.

Obviously, there was the Dark Knight, Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne, who determined he would use all of his wealth, genius, energy, and tech to fight crime and save Gotham City.

And yet, Batman was not the only hero in this series of movies.

Lt. James Gordon was also a hero. Even though he didn't wear a costume or a mask, his exploits were less glamorous; his equipment wasn't as high-tech and expensive. Lt. James Gordon spent every day fighting against the evil element in Gotham City and preserving justice. For decades, he stood against the powers of evil and did all he could to clean up the streets, protect the citizens, and keep Gotham from destroying itself. From within the system and often behind the scenes, Gordon fought the good fight for the city he loved.

That is why in the "Dark Knight Rises," Batman tells Gordon, "A hero can be anyone — even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hadn't ended." (1)

It was a moment that Bruce Wayne and Gordon shared, yet it was a story that many others could have also told. Undoubtedly, many others could have told similar stories where Officer Gordon proved to be a hero without all the glory and publicity of Batman's exploits.

In many ways, Officer Gordon represents many of God's men who quietly live heroic lives, taking care of the people around them.

He represents the men we don't hear about often enough.

The men who love God and do their best to serve Him.

The men who sacrifice for their families, who love their wives and kids. Those who raise their sons and daughters to walk in God's ways.

These men get up every morning, go to work for an honest day's pay, and represent Jesus the entire time. Then, they come home and serve their families, volunteer their time to coach the team, teach the class, lead the Royal Rangers, or help a neighbor.

They are the men who hold their churches together by doing the jobs that no one else wants to do. They make the repairs, fill in the gaps, visit people in hospitals, and pray at the altars.

They are the men holding communities together by serving on committees, filling out the paperwork for grants, fighting the fires, helping committees, and organizing events.

The man who sees the boy without a father, takes him under his wing…invites him to church…, and gets him involved in the youth group.

The man who sees a family struggling and drops off groceries.

The foster parent. The adoptive parent. The man who mentors others and shows them a better life.

These are the true heroes in our world—men who use their masculinity, strength, knowledge, and compassion to meet the needs of others.

Those who live by Micah 6:8:

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (ESV)

Even though they may not wear a mask or a cape, they can't fly, and they don't have superpowers, the men who serve God and others daily are the true heroes. They are the men who change the world.

Bibliography:

1. The Dark Knight Rises; Christopher Nolan; Warner Bros., DC Entertainment; 2012. Film.

2. Batman Begins. Directed by Christopher Nolan , performances by Christian Bale and Michael Caine, Warner Bros. Pictures DC Comics Legendary Pictures Syncopy Patalex III Productions, 2005.