Scott’s Thoughts

I'm really enjoying NBC's Heroes, and last night's episode was incredible. It's about all these ordinary people who discover they have an extraordinary ability -- flying, reading minds, turning invisible, etc. The storyline is quickly building to a climax in which everyone is scrambling to stop what looks like an inevitable atomic holocaust in New York.

Everyone's favorite character is this guy named Hiro Nakumura, a really optimistic, life-loving guy from Japan who can teleport and stop time. In last night's episode, Hiro jumps forward in time 5 years, meets himself, and tries to sort through some complicated surprises. At one point, he is accused of having been part of the impending doom facing the city, and his responses really touched my heart. Someone gets in his face and says that he's torn apart families, and Hero gets unusually serious and says, "I'd never tear apart families." We also get to hear his thoughts (thanks to the mind reader), and the thing that's echoing in Hiro's heart is a simple wish: "I just want to be a hero."

Reminds me of that old Steve Taylor song from the Meltdown album:

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When the house fell asleep there was always a light
and it fell from the page to the eyes
of an American boy.
In a storybook land I could dream what I read;
when it went to my head I'd see:
I wanna be a hero.

But the practical side said the question was still:
"When you grow up what will you be?"
I wanna be a hero.

Hero — It's a nice-boy notion
that the real world's gonna destroy.
You know it's a Marvel comicbook, Saturday matinee,
fairytale, boy.

Growing older you'll find that illusions are bought,
and the idol you thought you'd be was just another zero.
I wanna be a hero.

Heroes died when the squealers bought 'em off,
died when the dealers got 'em off.
Welcome to the "in it for the money as an idol" show.
When they ain't as big as life,
when they ditch their second wife,
where's the boy to go?

Gotta be a hero — It's a nice-boy notion
that the real world's gonna destroy.
You know it's a Marvel comicbook, Saturday matinee,
fairytale, boy.
When the house fell asleep, from a book I was led
to a light that I never knew.
I wanna be your hero.
And he spoke to my heart from the moment I prayed,
"Here's a pattern I made for you:
I wanna be your hero."

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I think I've been praying that prayer since I was that kid with the comic book and a flashlight. We heard it in Hiro's thoughts on TV last night (though, of course, he's thinking about superheroics and not spiritual heroics). Imagine what a world full of heroes could accomplish -- people who lived by an absolute standard of integrity, honesty, and self-sacrifice. Imagine what even a church full of heroes can accomplish -- giving of ourselves to reach out to others, encourage them, serve them, and lead them to the life-changing light we've discovered. A real hero doesn't have to wear spandex or weild superpowers; a real hero has that pure, selfless heart that I hear in Taylor's song and in Hiro's thoughts. "I just want to be a hero."

Lord, you are the ultimate hero -- the one we can look up to and follow. I want to be like you. I want to be a hero, too.