Yesterday I got to babysit my grandkids. Their parents participated in the pumpkin run in Akron and I got to be with the kids while they walked. We were there very early and it was pretty cold. So we went in search of hot chocolate. We found a coffee shop and warmed up, drank hot liquid with cookies on the side. People were coming in who were going to the run, and many were in costume.
Wouldn’t you know, in walked Spider Man. I thought the kids were going to fall off the chair. Timidly, with deep respect, they said hello. And Spider Man didn’t disappoint. It was clear he took his role as a super hero seriously, and he played it. He was a really nice guy, was kind to the kids, totally appropriate. They were smitten.
When we watched the start of the race and didn’t see him, the kids were despondent. We saw their parents, but it just wasn’t enough. We did see him at the end of the race, and the kids congratulated him. I had the good sense to get a picture, which was so nice of him. The kids continued to be thrilled.
Later, as we waited for the walkers to cross the finish line, he came and stood with us, talked to the kids some more, and waited for his friends. When he would wander off, the kids would want to know where he was. He even said goodbye before he left. He mentioned when we were chatting that he was amazed at the good he could do in the suit, how happy he made people. I told him I thought that was him and not the suit.
As I drove home and was replaying the wonderful morning in my mind, I thought about how little it takes to be a superhero. In fact, while a costume is handy, I don’t really think it’s necessary. You just need to pay attention, treat people like you care about them, and be kind. It isn’t magic, it’s holiness. And we are all capable of that.