CHAPLAIN'S CORNER: What's is lurking around you? Published Dec. 14, 2007 By Chaplain, Capt David E. Del Prado Tinker Chapel TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- One of my favorite super heroes is the friendly neighborhood Spider- Man. As a matter of fact, some of you have heard me borrow the adjectival phrase, "hello, I'm your friendly neighborhood chaplain," when introducing myself. Even as a child I thoroughly enjoyed the cartoon series. Well, I recently purchased the Spider-Man 3 DVD and was very pleased to see that it was as adventurous and meaningful as the previous two; I certainly hope you agree. You might ask, "what was meaningful about it?" I am glad you asked. Peter Parker learned some big lessons about the healing power of forgiveness, the destructive power of vengeance and anger and that all of us have made mistakes, none of us are perfect. The subtle slip into anger, bitterness and vengeance began when Peter Parker found out that his uncle's killer, from the first movie, was still alive. But a slimy black alien substance from outer space that followed him home from the park was lurking in his apartment waiting for an opportunity to cover him with its alien power and bring out the worst in him. He enjoyed the added strength the substance gave him. However, he did not realize early on that the more he wore his gook covered hero costume the greater the decline of his attitude and perspective on life and the less he valued people. He became more engrossed with himself and used people for personal gain. As a result he alienated those closest to him, wrong was right and right was wrong. A Biblical historical author by the name of James wrote, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Before the gook took a hold of Spiderman he lived daily choosing to stick with the core values he had learned from his aunt and uncle; values his aunt attempted to remind him of before he went off the deep end. But he made a choice to trade his core values in for the temporary pleasure and strength he received from the alien that only played on his victim mentality. Now I want to emphasize temporary because, thank goodness, Spiderman eventually comes to his senses. He realized that the values he had held dear were those that brought him the deepest sense of peace and strength in the midst of his struggles. Quoting James, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. ... "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. It is interesting that where Peter found solace, where he was able to tear the gook off himself was at a church or place of worship. Be encouraged that you do not have to stay hand cuffed to the destructive power of disappoingment, anger and vengeance. The key to unlocking your cuffs is to return to those wholesome values you know in your heart will bring the greatest peace and joy even in the middle of difficulties. In the end Peter forgave himself and was able to forgive his uncle's killer. His semblance was changed. He was the humble Peter we have all come to appreciate. He realized he was no better than the killer because the ends did not justify the means. So what's lurking around you?