Heroes and Crooks: I’ve Learned Much from both of their Styles

Once again I am preparing to blog about the Florida–Bahamas Synod Assembly. Now blogging for me is one part observation, one part reflection, and for the most part odd connections with images and metaphors from the present day.

Just coming off of last Sunday’s lessons about shepherds and few of my comments concerning the meaning of the word Pastor being shepherd, I got caught in an image. You see, the shepherd I imagine is dressed in a robe and holding a shepherd’s crook. My comment was that when the Bishop comes forward during the Synod Assembly Worship in particular he is dressed in flowing robes and holding his crozier, which is basically that shepherd’s crook. He is the Pastor’s Pastor, Shepherd of the Shepherds. And somehow, I also got the image of a cope which is a liturgical cape, and the immediate thought was the line from Jimmy Buffett’s song “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks, And I’ve learned much from both of their styles.”

Now I know that contextually, the song is talking about good guys and bad guys, but in my mind, it’s a reference to those caped crime fighting heroes, and those crook toting spiritual heroes like our Bishop and all the leaders of the church. Our Synod Assembly is a celebration and preparation for both concerns.

Superheroes come in a number of different guises. Not everyone drives a Batmobile (But if you see one parked at the Synod Assembly, it is indeed mine. In fact, just this past Sunday, I took a young visitor for a quick ride in said Batmobile, and instead of saying, “Thanks, Pastor!” he said, “Thanks, Batman!”) Secret identities aside, the heroes might look like relief workers who have been off to Haiti. Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry workers. And most likely, they won’t be wearing a cape because it would get in the way of swinging a hammer or filling a soup bowl, and quite frankly capes are not all the fashion in Florida today. Just check Bealls and you will find they are sadly not part of the Florida lifestyle. This will be a terrible disappointment to my young passenger from Sunday as he thinks he would make a splendid Robin, but the cape is a must!

The second of these types to celebrate are those crook-wielding spiritual shepherds in our midst. They are the ones with the God-eye activated, looking for God-moments and opportunities. They use that shepherds crook just like the shepherds of old. Sometimes it is used to defend against wolves who might threaten the fold. Sometimes it is used as a prod to keep us on those right pathways for his namesake. And sometimes it is used as a giant hook to snag us around the neck and jerk us back in line. However, it is used, the crook is not used haphazardly or capriciously but rather by the will of the Spirit, in the service of Christ, for the purposes of our Creator!

I anticipate the Synod Assembly will have both types there. In fact, in the very best examples, the same person will be both. They will probably look like that image I have of the Bishop processing down the aisle, cape on his back, crook in his hand. They will be the effective ones, because they will be moved and led by God, but will also jump in the fray like a hero with a heart of courage. They will be action heroes grounded in the Word. And they will be ones who know that saving the helpless is not just the call of the hero, but of everyone who follows the Good Shepherd.

The Batmobile is all shined up (that usually means it’s going to rain soon) gassed up, and packed up for the trek to Orlando. What characters will we meet this year? Who will save the day for someone else? And whom will God call to affirm the mission and vision for the church? Most likely, the answer will be everyone who hears the call of Jesus. And on the scale of cape to crook there will be many examples. I hope we can all learn from what God brings about this weekend. I’m sure it will be worthwhile. Because, you see, as I started off, in my experience, heroes and crooks, well I’ve learned much from both of their styles.