Warning: SPOILER ALERT!

[Not really a spoiler about the movie…but a different kind of “spoiler.”]

I have a friend who apparently finds it her part-time job to humor me, spoil me and my family, and encourage me.  With the aid of my executive assistant, she would often break into my office at the church I served.  I would come to my office and find balloons, banners, notes tucked away in all kinds of corners for me to find for the next six months at least.  Upon leaving my position as pastor at the church, she gave me the creation pictured above.  And a meaningful note about what my ministry had meant to her.  Just because.

With Captain America: Brave New World coming out next month, I thought it timely to talk about heroes.  And how heroes always seem to have someone behind the scenes to be there when they are not hero-ing.   Batman had Alfred.  Ironman needed several:  Happy, Pepper Potts, and Jarvis.  SpiderMan had MJ, Ned, and Aunt May.  

I thought about my friend who left encouraging notes and gifts, and who always makes it a point to bring by sugar cookies at Christmas for my family. I want to be like that for the leaders I serve.  Surprising them with encouragement.  Blessing them just because. 

Because pastors and leaders often feel pressure to be the hero.  Swooping in at a moment’s notice, in a time of emergency and tragedy.  Calendar and clock do not matter when there’s a crisis.

A friend introduced me to his father at our daughters’ soccer game.  When I told him what I did—provide coaching and care for pastors and leaders—he joyfully told me that he was taking a number of ministry leaders to a Golden State Warriors game soon.  I jokingly said (as an adopted Sacramento Kings fan until my Seattle SuperSonics rise from the ashes) “Why are you punishing them by taking them to see the Warriors?”  He smiled, ignored by attempt at humor, and went on to tell me that his friend was a chaplain for the Warriors, and these leaders would be getting VIP treatment at the game—food, access, talking to players, you name it.  I thought about what a gift a night like that must be for these leaders.  This man wasn’t doing it for another agenda.  He was spoiling them…just because.  

What I get to do is bless these leaders just because.  

When I insist on paying for their coffee, buying them lunch, or getting them that book, I get to share that there are 80+ people behind me, giving to me so I can give to them!  And who knows what else we will be able to do to show these leaders that there are people behind them, helping them be heroes.