Superman
When I first went to Nicaragua with Gene Cotton, I was touched deeply. So many children were hungry and pulling at my pants legs. It was hard to understand how so many precious kids could actually be in this condition. I thought, "What if this was my kid?" I came home burdened and challenged in my mind and heart. I asked God one night when I was walking, "Why do you associate yourself with the poor?" I wanted to understand why. He said that when you have taken care of the poor....you have taken care of me. I did not get an immediate answer, but a few days later I was walking in that same place and I felt like I heard God say in my heart. "The reason I associate Myself with the poor is simple. If I connected with the rich...they could give you money. If I connected Myself with the powerful.....they could give you power. If I connected Myself with influencial people...they could give you fame. I associated Myself with the poor because when you love them.....the only One that can pay you is Me. I am the only One who can reward you for taking care of those who have no way to pay you.
I was struck by this thought. And it made all the sense in the world. God made the poor His representative because He wanted to reward us inside with joy, peace and understanding. That is what we need and it is what the world needs now.
I say this because my son Bryson just returned from the Dominican Republic, his heart was touched in the same way. He met a little boy he called Superman. Here is a copy of the letter he wrote for the people that financially supported him on this trip. I think the letter speaks for itself and it was a greater blessing to me than all the money, power and fame in the world.
Dominican Republic Mission Trip
Report Update
July 2009
First of all, thank you for supporting a mission trip that changed my life. Your financial commitment enabled me to see for the first time how truly blessed I am to live in America and to have a home and family that comforts, protects, and provides for my needs. It’s hard to explain the gratitude in my heart for the way God has blessed me and really all of us. We don’t have to wake up in the morning and wonder where our next meal will come from. We have all the conveniences at our finger tips, hot water, T.V., food, etc. I learned that we are spoiled rotten in a way and if you really want to know the answer to our current economic problems, then go to a third world country like the Dominican Republic. It’s obvious: greed has consumed our lives. We have more than we need and we want more. More of what? We want more money, more material things, and more pleasures that comfort and entertain us. I can tell you…we need more gratitude and appreciation for what we already have. We need more love and compassion. This is what I learned and it has changed my thinking and behavior forever. I learned it through one little boy, I called him Superman.
Superman got his name because every time he saw me he wanted me to pick him up and pretend he could fly. It’s kind of like my dad use to pick me up and swing me around in the air.
This little boy stole my heart. I have even written a song for him so that I can share with others my love for him.
It broke my heart to leave Superman in the Dominican Republic. I wanted to bring him home with me and give him a better life. It made me ask questions about the world. Why does he have to live in poverty? Why do we throw away food when it might save his life? Why do we have so much and love so little? Well, the answer is in our hearts. We depend on materials things more than our faith. Believe me, these people might be poor, but they know what love is and love is free. When is the last time you truly held a child who was hungry? When is the last time you did without something that you love so someone else could be blessed? When have you actually cried with compassion because you truly care? If your answer was like mine….not often….then you have to ask the next question….WHY?
My guess is that you….like me….are too busy indulging in the finer things in life. You know…important things like T.V., hobbies, chocolate Bon Bon’s…maybe we need to look in our hearts and find a more satisfying source of happiness? I have never seen Jesus….I don’t know anyone that has…but I think I saw him when I helped Superman fly…at least it felt like I saw him….it was one of the deepest feelings of love I have ever experienced. I will never forget it and when I want to see Jesus…I don’t have to look any further than this picture. I believe it was Jesus that said, “When you have done it to the least of these…You did it to me.”
This is what I learned on my mission trip…and I want to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to experience “true love.” I will never be the same.
Love is what makes a child learn to fly…
Thanks Superman for teaching me how to fly…
Thank you God for wings…
Bryson Nicholson
The Last One Standing
(Song written for Superman in Dominican Republic July 2009)
Verse 1
I touched the hands of the children who have nothing but the smiles on their face show that they have love and faith and that’s all they need to get by with the weight of the world on their shoulders and why why why cant we give just a little of what we receive show a little compassion and pray for the needy lord I get on my knees every night and pray to you that superman will be alright
And we say…gotta have it gotta want it gotta need it if we see it on the television screen its mine but day by day we forget one thing its that theirs people out their with much greater needs.
(Chorus)
And I say….. I wanna be the last one standing I wanna be the end of the road I wanna see the unknown. X2
(Bridge)
And give them strength give them strength to survive
And we spread the word we spread the word in their lives
And he was my superman he was my superman and I loved him so
Verse 2
The children askin for something just a small as the hats on our heads or our bouncy balls but as human beings we don’t know that their are children in the world with nothing to show and they run around with smiles on their face, no food on their plates, or any chance to relate…to what we have
(Chorus)
And I say….. I wanna be the last one standing I wanna be the end of the road I wanna see the unknown. X2
