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The novel Across the Nightingale Floor is a classic hero tale set in a fictional ancient Japan. Cut off by tragedy from his childhood world, teenage Takeo forges a new life as the adopted son of Lord Shigeru. Shigeru is nothing like the villagers among whom Takeo was raised, but the boy quickly decides he wants to be just like Shigeru when he becomes a man. It's not just that Shigeru saved his life. Shigeru also has qualities that Takeo wants: wisdom, patience, kindness, and the skills and honor of a warrior. Takeo commits his life to emulating his adopted father/master and fulfilling Shigeru's goals.

Like Takeo, we too were born to be heroes—people who serve God and bring about significant good in the world. But who can save our lives and then show us how to live them? Jesus can.

When Simon, Andrew, James, and John first met Jesus, they were already looking for something more in their lives than just fishing. Jesus was a rabbi seeking students. In those days a rabbi wasn't just an academic lecturer, and a student or "disciple" wasn't interested in mere information. Simon and his friends wanted someone to teach them truth to base their lives on. They were also seeking a personal relationship with a teacher. They found both in Jesus.

Here was someone whose life they could imitate and whose words they could live by. Jesus was not someone who made them think, "I want to know what he knows"; he was someone who made them think, "I want to be like him."

Christ is a hero whose qualities are worth following. Here are the first steps for becoming more like him:

1. Pray. Set aside some time to pray about this idea of letting Jesus train you in how to live. If you're new to prayer, you might try just five minutes a day when you get up in the morning or when you arrive at work. You could pray, "Jesus, train me to live today. Train me to think your thoughts. Train me to feel toward people what you feel. Train me to do what you would do." Then review your day with him. You may find it helpful to write your prayer in a journal.
   
   
2. Spend time at the Master's feet. Take time to read the four gospels. Bask in these Bible chapters each week. We recommend that you jot down your thoughts about these readings in a journal.
   
   
3. Meditate. If you've read the gospels before, try meditation as a way of internalizing God's word more deeply. Copy a portion of Scripture onto a card, and tape it somewhere in your line of sight, such as on your car's dashboard. Think about it when you sit at red lights, or when you're getting dressed in the morning. Ask what God is saying to you, here and now, through these words? Again, record your thoughts in a journal.

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