With great power comes great responsibility...

One of my favorite passages in scripture is 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.” I love this passage because I believe many young people are presented with a very different message today. Unfortunately, there are a lot of opinions out there expressing that young people are irresponsible, act entitled, have no respect for others—and the list goes on. In a nutshell, the expectations towards young people are low. I think this is unfair.

I have a slight obsession with superhero movies. There is something about them that I find inspiring and I believe they stir up our inner hero. In the Spiderman 2 movie, one clip continues to inspire me. There is a point in the movie when Spiderman is fighting the villain, Doc Ock, on a moving subway train. At one point in the fight, Doc Ock damages the brakes and takes off, leaving Spiderman with the task of figuring out how to stop this fast moving train filled with passengers and heading for the river. Spiderman does some quick thinking and uses all his energy in stopping the train. As it finally stops, exhausted from the challenge, Spiderman passes out and the passengers pull him into the train just before he falls.

During his fight with Doc Ock, his mask is removed and so an unconscious Spiderman lies before passengers with his face exposed. And what is their reaction? They’re amazed at how young he his. They never would’ve imagined someone so young being responsible for saving so many people, so many times. As he regains consciousness, the passengers assure him that he has nothing to worry about—they will keep his identity a secret.

Soon after, Doc Ock returns to the train for Spiderman but the people, knowing they have no chance, step between him and Spiderman with a “you’ll have to go through me” attitude. Why did they take this risk?  Because they were inspired.

I believe young people have a great opportunity to change the world simply because people might not expect it of them. They expect “old people” to go out there and do good things, and while it might inspire others, I wonder if it is to the same degree. 

So take into consideration what Timothy says and be an example in what you say and do. You never know what actions it might inspire in others. It’s kind of your superpower.

Robby Francis

Griesedieck Hall Campus Minister