... Truth, Justice and the American Way

I was only six years old when the Man of Steel first appeared on my little black-and-white TV screen. Along with my other hero, the Lone Ranger (and one comedian, Jerry Lewis), these were the characters that I imitated on a daily basis. Two years later I was fitted for glasses, but, no problem --- the mild mannered Clark Kent (aka Superman) wore glasses too!

George Reeves balked at the role in the beginning, but went on to ride the cape of stardom for five years. However, his life was anything but super. As depicted in the recent film, Hollywoodland, starring Ben Affleck, Reeves constantly fought the ups and downs of his career, ending his life tragically with what was ruled a suicide. Struggling private detective Louis Simo, played by Adrian Brody, determinedly pursued the possibilty that George could have been murdered. However, after methodically ruling out the usual suspects, he seems to realize at the end of the film that the superhero just had nothing to live for.

Ten years later another tall, handsome actor would bring the Superman role to the big screen. Christopher Reeve (no relation) would easily depict similar character qualities of Superman, both in film, as well as in his personal life. George Reeves' life was a shamble. Christopher Reeve's life was going great, until his own tragedy struck in 1995, when he was paralyzed in an equestrian accident. In 2004 his life ended due to an infection. George Reeves partied and was manipulated by others. Christopher Reeve was generous and was a loving husband and father. Where is the justice?

True justice can never be realized until complete reconciliation is achieved. We can only experience a taste of that in this life. God does the rest in whatever time it takes for him to do it. One of the problems that we have is our shortsightedness, the inability to see how things will ultimately turn out. All we see is the end of things. Severed relationships, murders committed, divorces issued, life sentences --- and death, either at the hand of another, by our own hand or by accident or disease. God sees the reconciliation of all things --- everything made right.

For example, what if someone were to murder a member of your family? You may very well feel that justice had been rendered if the criminal were sentenced to life in prison or death, but it doesn't bring your loved one back. You may even forgive, but you'll not likely forget. Repentance on the part of the offender not only means turning from the life of crime, but involves a deep sense of remorse that desires to reverse time and fully supports the punishment he or she deserves. Full reconciliation requires a long-term, one-on-one contact between the parties needing to be reconciled. It is a slow process that merges the hearts into one spirit and puts to death finally any wrongdoing or emotional baggage.

I believe that God has designed for this unfinished business to be accomplished, even after this life, as we know it, is done. Another factor to consider is that victims, as in all lives, never really die. Having your child/parent/sibling/spouse/friend returned to you on the other side will help toward reconciliation with the perpetrator, but you will find that the burden is still before you. In order to stand before our Heavenly Father with pure hearts, we must be reconciled to those we have offended, as well as to those who have offended us. There's no other way. Perfect completeness. This is Jesus' role, given him by his father --- to continue to teach us obedience, love and reconciliation.

The Bible speaks clearly of this. In 2 Corinthians 5:18 and 19 we read, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world [emphasis mine] to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

Life is a journey. The Lord urges us to begin reconciliation here and now. His word never returns to him void. It will come to completion. We are his children.
STEVE