For a little while today I had my own personal superhero. (I can actually feel you getting jealous and all I can say is, “na-na na-na boo boo.“) Picture this: a 3′ tall superhero dressed in a padded Spiderman suit (surprisingly accessorized with a bright, red Superman cape). My 3 year-old nephew Benjamin played the role well, appearing from the corner of the room whenever a cry for help was sounded. He went immediately to the imaginary ‘bad guys’ and pushed them away. With each rescue, I heard, “And don’t come back bad guys!” After taking care of the situation, he strutted to the corner with his muscles bulging and waited patiently for the next cry of distress.
I’m so thankful we have a real-life superhero that is always standing ready to step in and help. There are too many challenges in this life, too many things that come against us, and too many problems to tackle on our own. Even if His hands were tied behind His back, God could still handle anything and everything we face. Are you in the middle of a difficulty? Give it to God. “This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord…” (2 Kings 3:18) He wants to take all those worries you are trying to carry alone. “Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22) It’s a good idea to start each day thanking God for His goodness. Following that, we should ask Him to watch over us, and to give us strength and wisdom to face each moment. Here’s our choice: go through the day fighting battles on our own, or go through the day with the only superhero who ever really existed. I know the choice I’m going to make, do you?
There’s always a little uncertainty about winter weather in Ohio. One forecast calls for tons of snow; another predicts we will have little snow but frigid temperatures. Quite frankly, I just want to know if I should be preparing my ‘snow-shoveling muscles.’ (I’m not even sure if I have any. I wonder if I can buy them on Amazon?) A few years back I remember opening my garage door and having the snow reach my shoulders, which completely ended the thought of going anywhere, and totally changed all plans for that day. Is it too much to ask what to expect? Is it too much to want to get ready for any contingency?
When God sent His angel to tell the world where Jesus would be born, you’d think he would have gone to the Bethlehem mayor’s office. The news stations would have loved that scoop, or even the Bethlehem News Messenger would want a chance at the story. I wonder why He didn’t just post it on Facebook? There were so many ways God could have announced His Son’s birth, but He chose to share it with the lowly shepherds. Luke 2:8-12, “And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 
I believe in angels. One of the reasons I believe is related to the car accident I had about 8 years ago. Most of that night remains a blur; I didn’t hear the sirens of the ambulance, the State Highway Patrol, or the sheriff’s car that arrived at the scene. But there are 3 comments I distinctly remember. From the patrol officer on duty, “I can’t believe I am getting to talk to you. We always get called out for fatalities on that road.” The Emergency Room doctor said, “You must have someone watching over you.” Lastly, the EMT driving the ambulance, “You must have angels watching over you.” Psalm 91:11-12 agrees, “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 
I am fortunate to drive a car that is very reliable, 99% of the time. One Saturday it didn’t start when I was headed to a toddler’s birthday party. That’s bad timing! I called a towing company and they arrived three hours later. They determined it was just a dead battery, so they jumped it and off they went. I left immediately for a late arrival to the party but had to stop for gas and the battery instantly died there. Can you guess what happened the next place I went? (If you guessed dead battery, you get the prize today. It’s found in the next paragraph so keep reading). The car was eventually taken into the shop where it received a whole new battery. Not having a faithful car, (for even just a day), led to one disappointment after another.
The wind was at my back today as I set out for a ride on the trail. With the sun in my face and a bright blue sky above me, my attitude soared with each passing mile. Fall’s splendor surrounded me in gorgeous displays of color. When I made the turn to come home however, the ride became decidedly harder. It seemed like everything conspired against me to keep me from my destination: the wind at my face, fatigue, and a steady rise in the road. I wanted to stop and rest but instead I put my head down, pushed on, and hoped to make it to my house as soon as possible. Then suddenly it happened, I turned onto my street, and I was never happier to see my driveway leading me into my home.
If I want a picture of steadfastness, I know where to go. The Sentinels who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. fit the picture. They protect the tomb in every kind of weather-including torrential rains, blizzards, and Washington’s relentlessly hot summers. The Sentinels are completely dedicated to their mission-guarding and ‘watching the back’ of the unknown soldier. The Society of the Honor Guard reports: “It gets cold, it gets hot and the mission continues as it has unbroken since 1937.” Just imagine, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every minute of every day and every minute of every night, standing firm. The Sentinels exemplify Corinthians 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
It’s that time of year when many people are exploring corn mazes. The corn maze is a giant puzzle you walk in that leads you through loops, curves, and sometimes even to a dead end. You could get turned around, you might circle back to places you’ve already seen, or you may even get lost. Most mazes are open only during the day, but occasionally one will be open after dark and you are navigating by a flashlight or the moon, which just adds to the challenge. Corn mazes are designed for entertainment, but when life gets puzzling, it’s not fun.
Everyone should have an inner circle of friends. We need people we can be real with: straight up honesty-hold nothing back-no judgment-and total freedom. It’s the trust, support, and love that make these friends so valuable. With life’s schedules it’s challenging to find the time, but the effort spent with a good friend is always worth it. I visited one such friend last night and all we did was sit around a campfire sharing life, giving support, and laughing with abandon. There’s something special about not having to dress up and ‘put on airs,’ to be able to wear those worn jeans and that comfortable t-shirt, and to have no expectations but a simple visit. That kind of friend is valuable.