Being Superman

Last night my wife asked me to lift the mattress and tuck in the sheets, but that's not what I heard in my head. My brain translated that request as, "Oh, husband, could you use your burly arms to lift this giant weight and save me, your helpless wife, from my distress?" I jumped to action, only to be deflated when I actually had to struggle to lift the darn thing (hey, it's a big mattress).

One of my favorite stand-up routines from Jerry Seinfeld is when he talks about how, deep down, all men think they are Superman. He uses the example of the guy who is driving a mattress home from the store and, even though it's strapped down, he's still got an arm out the window holding on to it. The guy is thinking, If that strap breaks, don't worry, I got it. It's the same absurd thrill we get from moving heavy objects or from killing bugs while women are screaming.

God designed men to be leaders, protectors and providers. Those roles can sometimes be a little harder to find in 21st century America than they might have been in 17th century America. We're not plowing fields or repelling attackers or hunting for dinner, so we take what we can get. Sometimes that means getting a kick out of some minor skirmish with a centipede, but more often than not it means acting in the same ways that our manly forefathers would have, even though the scenarios are different.

We may not have to plow fields or build our own houses, but we still have to work hard. There's nothing more unmanly than a lazy guy, someone who isn't doing what is necessary to provide for the family. We may not have to repel attackers, but we definitely have to watch out for our wives and children, even though the threats may not be as obvious. And, like every man throughout history, we have to be leaders, especially when it comes to spiritual things.

That can be hard these days, because a lot of men have grown up with no father or with a father who did not display the godly principles he should have. That's why I was excited to find this week's lead story for the eMag—John Smithbaker's new ministry, Fathers in the Field. John has created a fantastic ministry for men to become father figures in the lives of boys who don't have one.

I'm also excited that we are starting the first of our biweekly columns from the leaders of Iron Sharpens Iron. The first one, from their president, Brian Doyle, explains what it means to be a spiritual leader in the home. Brian has been involved in working with and discipling men for a long time, and I am thrilled to get someone of his experience giving us insights.

At New Man, we want to help you become the Superman that God intended you to be. So, as always, we'd love for you to let us know how we're doing and how we can do it better.