With Great Power

With great power . . .
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

When I saw it there on the little spin rack at the corner drug store, I knew it was going to be different. It's been 50 years, but I still vividly recall that cover art, the colorful red and blue masked figure swinging high among the skyscrapers, a frightened felon casually tucked under his arms. It was August 1962 and I was holding Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider Man. No one knew how significant this would become for the entertainment industry; that this character would still be going strong 50 years later.

It was a milestone moment in my life, too, one of those hinge points we look back on and say, "Something significant changed in my life because of that."

Most people know the basic story, especially if you have seen the most recent film version of this character. But for those who do not know: Peter Parker is a high school boy who lives with his elderly Uncle Ben and Aunt May in the NYC borough of Queens, a shy science nerd (routinely the target of bullies and always turned down for dates) who gets bitten by a radioactive spider and develops amazing spider-like abilities. He then applies his scientific skills to create a super strong "webbing" he uses to swing around the city's high ground.

Initially, he employs his new found abilities to line his pockets with cash, and quickly finds himself on prime time television raking in the big dough. It soon comes to a crashing halt, though. When a thief runs right past him, Peter ignores the request of a security guard to intervene. He is later crushed to learn his inaction led to the death of his beloved Uncle Ben. He then dedicates his life to fighting crime as penance for his hubris.

Like all good morality plays, the lesson comes at the end. And it was at the end of that first Spider Man story where my own life took a turn. There, in the final panel, above a lone person walking between shadowy cityscapes are these words: "And a lean, silent figure slowly fades into the gathering darkness, aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come - - great responsibility!"

Perhaps you're thinking something along the lines of, "Well, yes, everyone knows that." Perhaps they do, now. But 50 years ago, to a boy still in his wonder years, this was a revelation. And I don't think it is any stretch to claim that, because of Spider Man, some version of "With great power comes great responsibility" has been spoken millions of times in the last 50 years. Those with power may not always live like it, but you can bet they've heard it.

And even though it was a startling new thought to me 50 years ago, and one that shaped my thinking forever, the concept is not new. It has been around a very long time. Why, even Socrates exhorted those in power to "Rule worthy of might."

So, I'm pretty sure King David had been exposed to the concept. I think not abusing one's power easily falls under "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18 NIV). Yet, he egregiously abused his power by arranging Uriah's death to cover up his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, so egregiously that God responded by condemning David's family to generations of violence, from within and without.

Compared to a king, most of us possess very little worldly power. But power need not be at the royal level to qualify as great. If we reflect for a moment, we can probably think of someone over whom we do exercise great power: the power of love, of acceptance, of friendship, of charity, of encouragement, of joy, of prayer, of freedom.

You do have great power. Use it responsibly.


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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt

Proper 13 (18) (August 5, 2012)
2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35

Join us Friday if you can. We're still meeting at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco on 6th, near the Courthouse) at 8:00 a.m., eating a delicious breakfast and kicking around thoughts on this week's scriptures.

Bring your own web-shooter ;-)

Enjoy the week!
Steve