LSEM
  • About
    • What We Do…
    • History
    • National Staff
    • Jobs
  • Services
  • Parents
  • stories
  • Give
  • Contact
  • LSEM PORTAL
  • About
    • What We Do…
    • History
    • National Staff
    • Jobs
  • Services
  • Parents
  • stories
  • Give
  • Contact
  • LSEM PORTAL
LSEM > Devotions > Simply Heroic

Simply Heroic

  • May 3, 2022
  • Posted by: Carolyn Mahal
  • Category: Devotions
No Comments

If I were to ask you to define a hero, what kind of answer would you give? Some heroes wear colorful costumes with flowing capes. They exude strength. They uphold truth, justice, and the American way. They possess superhuman powers and use highly sophisticated tools in pursuit of the villain. They are generous, intelligent, compassionate, driven to make the world a better place, and finally: strikingly handsome.

(Thank God these people don’t really exist, or I would have never found a girl willing to date me!)

But for every Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Green Lantern come other heroes that don’t quite meet those lofty standards. Take a moment and consider heroes like Bullwinkle, Scooby Doo, Hong Kong Phooey and Dudley Do-Right (those of you who are younger than me can consider this a Google opportunity). It seems almost a sacrilege to categorize these characters as heroes. They strut around in shabby clothes or rumpled up uniforms. They exude false bravado, confusion, and cowardliness. They possess no special powers and were it not for others around them quietly pointing them in the right direction they’d be complete and utter failures. It’s easy to see why these last four never got invited to hang out at the Hall of Justice with the “Super Friends.” But like it or not they fit into the category of hero, and in some ways, they are more representative of the real life heroes that we see every day.

How can this be? It’s simple: to be heroic does not require perfection. A character lacks depth if it never experiences any struggles or shortcomings. In fact, all good heroes possess flaws that make them more interesting. All of the aforementioned heroes have their weaknesses. They are what makes each individual unique while at the same time creating a common bond with all mankind.

The Bible is filled with heroes – people whose stories offer both the good and the bad sides of their personalities. Samson was blessed by God with incredible strength, but his ego combined with a poor choice in women proved to be his downfall. David was strongest when as a boy he stood up to a giant. Conversely, David was at his weakest when as a king he stood on his roof ogling another man’s wife. Jonah is credited with saving the people of Nineveh, but he did so smelling of fish guts as a result of his cowardice. Jesus proclaims Peter to be the rock upon which He would build his church, only to chastise him moments later, demanding: “Get behind me Satan.” Shameful. Embarrassing. Hardly heroic…

The Scriptures are filled with thieves, liars, cheats, adulterers, murderers, punks, and thugs. So where are all the heroes? They are one and the same. These people were flawed but faithful – used by God to accomplish amazing things they could have never imagined if left to their own abilities. This is a good thing. We don’t need to invent crazy gadgets that trap bad guys or fall into a vat of nuclear waste to alter our genetic makeup so we can fly or shoot freeze rays out of our ears. We simply offer our lives to God who uses the gifts He designed us with to put us in the right place with the right skills to do the right things to advance the kingdom. Paul confirms this in the words of Ephesians 2:10, declaring: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Despite our shortcomings, God has a plan for us and through Him we can heroically accomplish what He has prepared for us to do. And best of all, we don’t need to wear those unflattering tights!

 

Devotion by Richard Schumacher

LSEM Director of Programs & Services

  • Recent Posts

    • Train Up a Child
    • Lead, Follow, & Get Out of the Way*
    • Celebrating Our Failures*
    • Simply Heroic
    • What I’ve Learned: The COVID-19 Edition
  • Staff

    • Board Of Trustees
    • National Staff
    • Teachers
  • More Stories

    Recognizing Success

    Graduation Gratitude

    Carryover Success

    Learning and Teaching

    Coolness!

    A Path of Improvement

    Learning Brings Confidence

    Something That Works

    From Fearful to Fearless

    A Magical Moment

    Growth Mindset: Self Advocacy

    Growing and Blooming

    Building That Relationship

    Finding the Right One

    Getting Back On Track

    More Than Just Academics

    No Problem

    God’s Love in the Classroom

    A Familiar Face

    Rewinding the Negative

    What A Difference

    The Power of Relationship

    The Encouragement to Shine

    Long Lasting Effects

    A New Start For A Child

    Providing Effective Instruction

    Summer Practice and Fall Success

    Where God Leads

    What A Teacher Longs For

    Blossoming Success

    Support Makes A Difference

    Attitude and Determination

    A Real World Connection to Learning

    Watch in Amazement

    More Than Just A School

    Some Classroom Success Stories

    A “Shark Tank” Story

    Creature Comfort

    Fostering Spiritual Growth

    Catching Up

    Another Way to Read

    Connecting Learning to Hobbies

    A Wow List

    I Know the Answer!

    It’s Okay to Ask for Help

    Long Term Growth

    Resilience

    Practice Makes Progress

    Teaching at Many Grade Levels

    Yes You Can!

    Learning and Building Confidence

    Finding the Fun in Reading

    The Hybrid Classroom

    Teaching Outside a Resource Room

    Sight Word Wow

    Acceptance Leading to Growth

    The Goal Stays the Same

    Seeing Smiles

    A New Way to Teach

    Attitudes Change

    Consistent Alternatives

    A Hand to Help

    A Message from the President/CEO

    How Your Gift Makes an Impact

    LSEM Christmas Tea

    There Are Spiders in Her Office!

    Finding Her Place

    Small Tech Makes a Big Improvement

    New Families for a New School Year

    We Praise the Lord

    Transitions

    It’s Been a Busy Summer

    Golf for a Cause!

    Faith During the Pandemic

    A Fireside Chat with Stacy Hoeft

    Work From Home Desk Challenge

    We MOVED!

    Introducing 20 in 20

    Hear From Our Teachers

    LSEM Summer Shorts

    To God Be the Glory!

    A Thank You to Our Teachers

    A Valentine’s Special

    New Students and New Challenges

    A Brief Reflection On Service

    Teaching in a Virtual Landscape

    Teaching in a Time of Uncertainty

    LSEM in Texas

    Anxiety and Learning

    You Don’t Have to Choose

    A Learning Haven

    Causing a Culture Shift

    Connecting in a Time of Difficulty

    Growth and Goodbyes at St John Rochester

    Growing Confidence

    A Friendsgiving Story

    Not Being Defined by a Learning Need

    A Shifting Approach to Special Education

    Teachers Are Like Family

    Enthusiastic Support in Hanoi

    Step Up to Reading

    Starting on an Active Note

    Look at That Smile!

    Seeing Yourself in a Story

    What Makes a Wow Story

    Celebrate Them Going

    Lutheran Education Podcast

    Exactly the Help We Needed

    On the Ballot for the National LWML

    A Special Announcement

    Stories from Hearts for Jesus 2

    Stories from Hearts for Jesus 1

    Hearts for Jesus Continues!

    Busy Bees at St Peter

    Professional Development Helps Everyone

    An Unexpected Opportunity to Help

    Technology Opening Doors of Communication

    Satchian’s Story

    A Trip to Let It Shine

    Saying YES to a Child in Need

    Literacy and A Little Library

    A Positive Program Result

    A Kindergarten Wow Story

    Technology is Opening Doors for LSEM Students

    LSEM Helps Establish Standards

    Honoring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

    An Innovative Principal’s Mindset

    It Takes A Team

    High School Transformation

    Growing and Graduating

    Minnesota Principal Sees LSEM Impact

    The Best Gift of All

    A Young Boy with a Giant Heart

    LSEM Helps Texas School Shine its Light

    Notes from the Tree House

    LSEM Student Uses Dance to Express her Love of Jesus

    Costa Mesa Principal Reports LSEM Success!

    A Second Grade Success Story

    Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Student Fearless About His Future!

    Crown of Life Lutheran School Puts its Mission into Action

    Future Cities Super Star Wins at National Competition

    Former LSEM Student Uses Her Experience to Help Others

     LSEM Teacher Uses Skills to Connect with Teen Learners 

    A Mother’s Voice: How Mia Transformed Her Struggles to Success 

    A Perfect Storm

    You can. We can. The children can!

    From shy and quiet to outgoing and involved

    Success stories all around us

    Students compete in national competition

    An “Updated” Story of Faith

    From the Heart: A Friend of LSEM Shares How His Family Made a Difference

    From Struggling to Smiling

    Wow! This has made all the difference

    One Child. Two Perspectives

ABOUT US

Throughout our history God has graciously revealed his plan for us. Although the educational landscape is constantly changing, LSEM is committed to partnering with Christian communities to help meet the needs of children and their families. Please contact us if you would like more information on how we can support you or your ministry.

QUICK LINKS

  • ABOUT US
  • LATEST NEWS
  • GIVE
  • STORIES
  • HEARTS FOR JESUS

CONTACT US

3773 Geddes Rd.
       Ann Arbor, MI 48105-3028

248-419-3390

Fax: 248-419-3394

Email: lsem@luthsped.org

Building Brighter Futures
Footer logo
Footer logo
Search