We love to gawk. Especially at things that have gone wrong.
I think we like to gawk at terrible things because we can thump our chest and say “see, I’m okay. I’m not as bad off as that guy.”
When we read about awesome things, awe inspiring things, thumping our chest and saying “I’m okay” takes on a new meaning.
Even then we prefer I think to read about champions or bad guys instead of heroes.
Most champions can be safely admired because we couldn’t possibly be them. Everyone knows: I’m too short to be a winning basketball player. I’m not short enough to be a Navy jet pilot.
And bad guys can be safely booed because however they got where they got the gains are ill-gotten and one day will be catastrophically lost. Surely.
But when we read about heroes or underdogs we are reminded of what we can be. And then we run smack into the question, “am I doing everything I am meant to do?”
Only a very clear knowledge of our place in Christ, in our community, in the depth and maturing of our character, and (importantly at this point) our calling and competencies can defeat the temptation to thump our chest and belligerently say “I’m okay” while ignoring the hollow sound inside.
Are you the hero in your calling? Are you defying the odds and risking risks to act heroically?
Or are you… Okay?
