Thinking about Super Powers and Faith
A super power would be cool. Is it possible that faith is a kind of super power?
When I led groups at the state hospital, I would often begin with one question to ease folx into the group. The question was, “If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?” As I have watched various shows and movies featuring magical and super powers in the heroes, I’ve been thinking about this question.
Honestly, my answer hasn’t changed. I’ve always thought that with the ability to read minds, ministry and spiritual care would be so much easier! My second choice, in case you’re wondering, is super speed so I could travel more easily.
How about you? What super power would make your life easier or more fun?
Of course, super powers aren’t real, just fun to think about. Kind of like super heroes. If they existed, how would the world be different? Or would the world change at all if magic or super powers were real?
Now this next question might seem like a leap. However, I often go from these fantasy-based thoughts to reality. What has helped me survive and triumph through hard things? My answer, as you might expect, is faith, though maybe not in the way you might think.
As a child, faith surrounded me with a community whose Love saved my life. Faith reminded me in my most lost moments that I was not alone. Faith eventually led me to believe that I am Beloved. Faith, for me, is always growing and transforming. And it is a kind of super power.
What role does faith play in your life? How has it shaped you, changed you, or saved you? Spend some time reflecting on your own faith journey – where you have been, where you are now, and where you might be heading. How has faith empowered you? Would you trade it for a super power?
I think faith is the super power that builds community, and I’m glad and grateful you are part of Living Table. Feel free to share your thoughts on super powers, faith, or both in the comments.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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I would love the super power of being in multiple places at the same time and then reabsorbing all of my clone’s knowledge at the end of the day. Ah, the experiences I could have and the things I could accomplish! =)
Faith is a loaded subject for me. I’ve had a couple crises of faith in my life where it shook me to my core and I spiraled down into a place where I never want to go again. As much as I would want the superpower of cloning myself to be in many places doing different things, I would not trade that for the faith that I have now. It took me years to build faith in myself back up.
Sarah, cloning oneself to be in multiple places would indeed be a cool superpower. I understand the power of healthy faith and am glad that you have found it.
If I had a choice, I would love to possess the super-power to live inside someone else for a day (like the old show Quantum Leap) to give myself perspective and also to let others live inside me for the same reason; I’d also love to have the super-power to hit a button to eliminate plastic from the ocean, pollution from the air and replace it with whole pure everything. It’s hard to remember the message that feeling overwhelmed and cynical is not an excuse to stop trying; we need to be the change in the world.
Suzanne, I love this idea. And I totally loved that show!
Superhero task of my left hand touching to give emotional health as my right hand giving physical health. The dread of both seen & unseen ailments in our World. Which is one why I love those Jesus healing stories!
Deb, that would be a great super power.
I would want the super power of “do-overs”. I try to learn from my mistakes and getting a second chance is not always easy.
I feel like I have faith. I just need to remember to draw on it. That still isn’t an automatic response.
I echo what Kent says, maybe just said a little differently. I would love to have the superpower to bestow trust among all peoples. It seems to me that a lot of what we face today in the polarizations in human affairs is based in mistrust and its source: fear.
I also believe that the “personal” is “political,” in that my personal fears and mistrust and suspicions directly affect my political worldview. Thus, my determination to keep working on myself, doing what I need to do for healing my wounds, so that I don’t project that pain onto others and the world at large. It has political ramifications.
Doug, trust would also be an amazing super power. You and Kent were both thinking much more globally than I was. And I agree that personal and political aren’t separate as much as we might like to think.
I know how some folks have a difficult time finding peace in their lives today
My superpower would be to bring calmness to them.
To bring them peace.
Kent, that would be an excellent superpower!