Love Rescue Us
Someone I follow on Twitter mentioned that they were reading All-Star Superman to their children and shared a few of their favorite pages. All-Star Superman is probably the best 21st Century story featuring the Man of Steel. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely perfectly capture what makes the character so wonderful in a way that feels both timeless and fresh. It's the first Superman story that I recommend to others.
One of the favorite pages tweeted this guy tweeted is one of the most famous in the series. Seeing it again struck a deep chord within me. In the context of the story, Superman finds out that he has only one year to live and spends the series trying to do as much good as possible. There is one issue that covers him saving people around Metropolis on one of his last days. Superman stops disasters, he comes up with a Kryptonian treatment for cancer and takes it to a children's hospital, he saves lives.
In the midst of all this superheroing, there's a panel showing a young girl standing on top of a skyscraper. Brokenhearted she peers over the edge as she prepares to leap to her death. In the next panel, the familiar S-symbol appears behind her. "Your doctor really did get held up, Regan. It's never as bad as it seems. You're much stronger than you think you are. Trust me." Then the girl turns and hugs Superman.
I love that scene. It's probably one of my favorite in any media: comic book, TV, film. And it's not just because it is another example of why my favorite childhood superhero still resonates with me today. More than that, the scene between Clark and Regan depicts what I believe is what should be our driving ethic in life. We are called to be people of love and compassion who reach out to those peering over life's ledge. It's one of the cornerstones of Christian life: We love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We stand beside and embrace those who feel like all hope is lost.
Superman's statement that it's never as bad as it seems would seem on the surface to refer to Regan believing her doctor stood her up. Yet I think the action that truly demonstrate that things aren't as bad as they seem is that someone shows up. The crap in Regan's life that forced her out on that ledge is still there. But it is not as bad, or at least it is more bearable, when someone stands up there with her, reminds her that she is strong, and lovingly hugs her. It rescues her.
Many people feel like they are on the ledge right now. There always are, but there is palpable despair and anxiety in the atmosphere right now. People are stressed and worried. We can move the needle incrementally, but we can't completely transform the things that vex our neighbors. What we can do is stand on the ledge with them, let them know they matter and are loved, and embrace them. We do this for everyone: family and friends, immigrants, refugees, the marginalized, the one at the end of their rope. We love people even before they get out on that ledge.
Love does not only help those in need. I truly believe that love is the only thing that is going to rescue the church in this country. If we neglect our sisters and brothers who are hurting and in need, if we only look out for our own then we absolutely deserve every empty pew in our sanctuaries. If we insist on our interests above others then we toss aside the good news that has been handed down from generation to generation. If we choose power over justice then we are lost. Love of God and love of neighbor is the only thing that will rescue the church. Maybe we're the ones who are out on the ledge.
My simple prayer is that God's love would rescue us. That as we zoom around, we would take the time to come alongside one another. And that by practicing presence, it would make things seem less bad than they really are. I pray that we can talk each other off the metaphorical ledge. This is how we can do super things in trying times. With God's help, love will rescue us all.
