Matt Pana

kryptonite

I’ve never been a fan of Superman.

The Man of Steel has stolen the hearts of millions. A savior from a different world. An ubermensch coming from a planet not our own.

Some say he’s more powerful than a locomotive. But perhaps his true motive was power. A motivation that would drive anyone mad. Some say he can leap tall buildings in a single bound. But perhaps he was bound by the heights. His potential. Limitless. Crumbling under the pressure of society’s expectations.

Despite all these abilities, he had one flaw in his character. Despite being alien in nature, there was one thing that made him human.

His only weakness. Kryptonite. Pieces and shards from his home planet.

But maybe these rocks had no physical affects to begin with. Maybe they were mere remnants of his homeland. Leaving him reminiscing. Reminding him of what he lost. Sharp pains. Sharp reminders. Regrets of a world he once belonged to. What it once was.

We all have that one weakness. That one thing that can get under our skin. While we may feel untouchable. Super even. On our best day. There’s always that one thing that can leave us paralyzed. That one thing we have no control over.

Whether to our own accord or not, our past is apart of us. It makes us who we are. Sometimes it can drive us to do extraordinary things. Other times, it can make us tremble. Weak in the knees. Prey to whatever stands against us.

You see, a true hero doesn’t need lavish origin stories or rogues galleries. A true hero simply stands for something. Finding power not through gamma rays or gadgets, but through courage, optimism, and faith.

You may find the need for damsels and sidekicks, but don’t forget that we are our own heroes. Every morning is our arrival to earth. Every day we’re given the ability to take flight. To serve. To protect. But before we can carry the world on our shoulders. We must start from the basics. Begin humbly. Cause hey, every Superman needs their Smallville.

Remember, while a little can go a long way. A little can quite possibly save a life.

the eraser game

It was my senior year of college, and there was one thing standing between me and my degree. A Fine Arts credit.

I decided on Acting, in hopes to improve my stage presence as a musician. Now there’s one thing you need to know about Acting classes. There are no set lesson plans. No multiple choice questions or research papers. You can’t teach someone how to read a line or portray a character. The best way to learn is by playing. Playing games. Learning through action. Expressing yourself. And there was one game that stood out above the rest.
 
The Eraser Game.
 
Imagine this. An empty stage. Two students. And a chalkboard eraser placed between them. Now the object of the game was simple. The first person to convince the other to give them the eraser would pass the class. There was only one rule though. No physical contact.

What resulted was a standstill. A face-off. A barrage of sound and saliva. People demanding. Screaming. Taunting. Teasing. My game plan? Confidence. Persistence. Not stopping until I got what I wanted: that beloved eraser.

My turn was up, as I was paired with the best actress in class. With starring roles in every production on campus. As I began to speak loud and firm. Looking at her directly in the eye. She just stood there. Silent. Glaring. And the more stoic she was, the more angry I became. My blood. About to boil. My veins. About to burst. My throat so hoarse that I could barely complete a full sentence.

So what did I ultimately get from all this? Well I learned that silence speaks volumes. That lack of communication can drive a person crazy. Attacking their pride. And once the dust settles, there are no clear protagonists or antagonists. It’s all up to your own perspective. How the scenes are seen. How the story is told.

At the end of the lesson, there were no winners. Yet we still passed with flying colors. In the world of acting, it’s not how you act, but how you react. It’s not about the punch-lines or monologues. Rather, what’s understood beyond the words. Beyond what’s planned or scripted.

Don’t just listen to what someone says, listen to what they do.

WWJD

If you’ve ever shaken hands with a Christian, what’s the first thing you notice?

The placement of their hand against yours? Their grip? The emphasis on their shake?

Maybe you notice something else. A bracelet. Wrapped around their wrist. Inscribed with an acronym. 4 Letters. Signifying not only a way of life. But a code to live by. A means to ask oneself how a Son, a Savior. How a Messiah would act. 

But for most Christians, there’s one letter that has lost its meaning over time.

There once lived a man named Jonah. A man infamously known for being swallowed by a whale. Now despite his predicament, he was given a second chance. Yet, he didn’t learn his lesson right away.

What Would Jonah Do? Well for starters, he would close himself off. Refusing to deal with nonbelievers. Going as far as to even run away when asked to deal with the “wicked” people of his time (Jonah 1:3). And when these people needed him the most, he would do absolutely nothing (Jonah 4:5).

Sometimes, we choose to be just like Jonah. A spectator. Simply waiting. Watching the world as it gets what it deserves. Building walls and hiding within the confines of our own community.

Whether you choose to see a person as a lost soul or a lost cause. Perhaps its our obligation to step out of our comfort zones. Out of our element. Getting to know other people, in order to better know ourselves. To see where we truly lie. Cause no matter how faithful you are to your God, you still need to have faith in the people that come into your life.

Now looking back at this bracelet, you realize that it lays on their wrist for reason. As to lay close to their pulse. The pulse of the community. What moves them. What drives them. As a reminder to the world around us. Ever growing. Ever changing.

Reminding us that no matter how you may preach or teach, the best way to reach a person is to create a memory. A story. Living out a lesson. Demonstrating those acts of kindness.

While some may be quick to judge. Be quick to love.

flight risk

In the court of law, the term ”flight risk”is given to a defendant who may leave the country if let out on bail. Finding the easy way out. That being, the next plane out of the country.

This is the type of person you need to keep a close eye on. A person who’s ready to leave their current circumstance, all for a better opportunity elsewhere. To a place far from guilt or responsibility. A place where the rules and laws don’t necessarily apply.

And this isn’t the first time its happened. You see, this person holds a criminal record. A track record of great escapes. A frequent flyer. Who coincidentally has a fear of falling. A fear of taking a risk. A fear of taking a chance. Preventing you from ever wanting to fly again. An opponent to your God-given ability to move. To soar. To spread your wings.

Whether you’re heading into new relationships, or heading the largest project of your career. You need to surround yourself with people who will not only take you to the next level, but who are willing to take part in your journey. Not someone who wants to get away from you, but someone who wants to get away with you.

Cause everyone needs a copilot. Staying up on those long nights. Talking to you through every route and every turn. Guiding you. Giving you a sense of direction. Willing to go through the trials. Willing to go through the trouble. Between fight or flight, they’re willing to go toe to toe. See eye to eye.

Seeing you as not just any option. But the option. Not just any choice. But the choice.