Humanity's Biggest Superpower
During this time, I’ve been watching a lot of superhero action films and television series. Most recently, The Flash on Netflix, a great spinoff of the superhero that runs, and fast.
Early on in the series, Barry, the main character is going through a big change, one that — coincidentally — allows him to save people and run really fast. His stand-in father, Joe, says these words, ones that particularly cut through to me during this time:
“The hardest thing you’re gonna have to face out there is not a monster with power, it’s gonna be that feeling of uselessness when you can’t do anything… Some things, you can’t fight, other things, you just have to live with.”
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Okay, there’s a couple reasons I love superhero adaptations and I just felt the need to stop and explain before I head on in to the deeper part of this essay/piece/whatever-this-is.
One: Most superheroes are known to start off as humans and then some freak accident somehow makes their least capable human trait the one that becomes their biggest strength. Meaning, our biggest weaknesses also have the capacity to be our biggest strengths and vice-versa.
(Today, that might look like finding joy in the middle of hard times, it might look like taking up a new hobby, going for a walk within reason, and finding your biggest weakness and turning it into your biggest strength).
Two: There is always some human takeaway in any superhero adaptation, film, or television series, and it is almost always that good overcomes evil in the middle of the worst and trying times. Meaning that, even when thousands of people are dying and evil is afoot, there are still human-people with superhero powers on the frontlines doing the work to help the greater good come alive.
(Today, this might look like grocery store workers, people still going into work at their local grocer because there is no other option, and companies shutting down for the greater good of the people and their employees).
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But all that to say that Barry’s stand-in father is right. And hear me out, because I know there are a lot of people feeling weak and helpless out there right now.
In that weakness and helplessness, I have seen people taking on a mantle of joy.
~I watch people cracking digital jokes about their “coworkers” as they continue to do the work necessary to provide for family.
~I’ve seen friends reading books to children digitally.
~I’ve experienced my company firsthand work tirelessly to make sure it’s employees are doing okay, making sure we stay in-the-know about developments and everything that is going on company-wide.
~I’ve watched as friends, teachers, and people I care about take on the mantle of teach-from-home and create routines for their children and students, even when it is hard.
~I’ve watched as influencers I know push through depression’s gates to keep positive.
~I’ve watched as musicians have figured out ways to still share their craft with fans.
~I’ve watched as churches shut down, working tirelessly to still make Sunday Services available to their members.
~I have seen writers still producing content.
~I’ve watched videos of Broadway stars thanking the grocery workers who are still out there.
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You see, I think it’s very easy for us to fall into this place of complacency when really, it is our joy that prevails. Sure, we may feel useless and like there is nothing we can do; those feelings are valid and absolutely necessary to grieve and feel as we navigate this thing.
There are some things we just can’t fight or change, but Joe is right in saying that sometimes there are things we have to live with.
In that living, in that space of not being able to change the circumstances around us, there is an inner fight and strength that comes as we combat the things we can’t change and take heed of the things we can.
And I’ve watched as humanity has taken heed this past week.
As we continue to learn what this looks like, I hope we all come away knowing that we have always been better together and that is — as a whole — humanity’s biggest power at hand.