Can a failure become a hero? Or are heroes just those who succeed without the hint of failure? I gained a new hero just this week. Mark doesn't give us his name in the gospel account. We do know he is a dad. He is a dad with a broken heart over the condition of his son. He is also a man with needs that even he doesn't know exists. Mark 9 tells this amazing story of how he became a hero despite his need.

We do know this man brought his demon possessed son to Jesus for healing. The only problem was that Jesus was coming down from a time of retreat with three of His disciples. Nine disciples are left behind who could do nothing to aid this man. It got so bad they began a debate with other religious leaders. The actual language says it was more argument than debate. When Jesus arrives the child is still in torment as the two groups are solving some theological issue. Dad steps up to tell Jesus what his need is as he sees it. Our Lord initiates a conversation based on the need of a father and of a son.

What is the disease of the father? My opinion is that he is carrying around the weight of past dissapointments. I suspect he felt the devastation of dissapointment over and over while searching for help for his boy. That's a feeling I can relate to in my life. You probably have similar moments in your life as well. The man becomes a hero when he says through his tears, "Lord, help my unbelief." The tears may be rooted in pain but his prayer is anchored in honesty. When he admits his hurts then he is open to all the healing Jesus has for both he and his son.

Chronic dissapointment tends to become despair. Reality crashes into our expectation to leave a trail of broken hopes. There are people among us who are in constant conflict with those emotions. Some, like me face it due to medical issues. We are the ones who live with brains that are "broken." It is a fact of life for us. Some live with it due to the heartbreaks of life. They pushed the boulder up the mountain repeatedly only to have it come hurling back down. Now they have no energy left to even consider the boulder. Life is like the movie, "As Good as It Gets."

Heroes are honest. They cry real tears when they hurt. I know that I do. Perhaps they are a gateway to being real with self and God. Maybe we don't allow ourselves to feel the hurt to the point of tears. We like being in charge and appearing invincible. We don't even always know what to do when others reach that point. Jim Valvano said in his last public appearance that life is good if you cry a little each day. He said that facing his last days before losing his battle with cancer. Jesus would probably say something similar. He would say that the tears of despair are the stuff heroes are made of.

Bro. Trey