where is the hero of the story?

For a hero to exist, there must be people for him to rescue.

In another time, a scene was set for a hero to enter into a story. A nation of people who were not strangers to oppression. Oppressed once again by an empire using violence to bring peace. Leaders who took advantage of a people group through greed and murder. This nation cried out for someone to save them. But they were looking for a political leader for that change.

Yet the hero was not born into wealth or advantage. He was born into a messy family into a messy world. While he could boast of royalty in his lineage, he also had murderers and prostitutes, liars, and plenty of brokenness. He did not look like a hero to the people. Yet he had the courage and ability to do what no other person could. And while most of the nation searched for a strong force to overthrow their oppressors, the hero of the story changed the world forever in a much different plot.

Today our world also cries out for a hero. Oppression is everywhere. Lack of food and shelter or disease oppress some. Others are overtaken by debt, taxes, fear, greed and hate. Some are oppressed by stronger people or groups, some are oppressed by their own choices. In a world where father brings more negative than positive images, where new fears are advertised every day, where some days it is a wonder that our world even remains to exist, we are crying out for someone to save us. Our hero is here. And he hears our cries. But sometimes he is lost in the noise. Noise of politics, news, entertainment, technology, religion.

Sometimes our hero is over shadowed by those that look just like him. The imitation heroes really are just as oppressive--preaching hate for those who are different, whitewashing people yet letting them rot in the their hearts. Claiming we have to be perfect for our hero to hear us. When he came not for those who are saved but those who needed saving. Our hero doesn't have a cape or a sidekick. But he does have supernatural powers. But those powers are not what most of us are searching for.

Where the black and white and shades of gray in our world envelop our lives, he is the color that redefines our existence. In a movie, his touch would start a rainbow of colors spreading through lives. The kingdom he brings is in high definition. But for now all we can see are the bits of color that shine through the darkness and drab. His promises are abundance while the heroes we place our trust in can only offer survival.

The hero will keep returning. The stories will repeat. Each time the hero will be missed by most. But the hope remains that "the end" of the story is a large party, where the hero gathers his people to celebrate. And when we look around that table, we'll be surprised by those we celebrate. Just as we're so often surprised by the hero that invited us to the party.