The Captain Awesome Stink Bomb

In the TV show Chuck (about a computer geek who inadvertently downloads critical government secrets into his brain), one of the regular characters is Dr. Devon “Captain Awesome” Woodcomb.

Dr. Devon Woodcomb is Chuck’s brother-in-law. He’s a medical doctor—a cardiac surgeon…

And he looks like a fitness model.

His nickname, “Captain Awesome,” comes from Chuck’s belief that “everything he does is awesome,” including rock climbing, hang-gliding, speaking fluent Spanish, and flossing.

Also, Dr. Devon Woodcomb uses the word “awesome” way too much.

Initially, Chuck started calling him “Captain Awesome”.

Then, over time, his nickname was shortened to the essential “Awesome”.

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus teaches “the Beatitudes”.

That word, Beatitude, means literally, “the blessings.”

Maybe the opposite of “the blessings” would be “the stink bombs”.

Here’s one version of the second beatitude:

“Blessed are those who are mourning, grieving, hurting—and aren’t pretending everything’s OK. Because of their honesty and vulnerability, they will be comforted.”

Interesting. Now let’s flip it around…

“Plastic people who pretend everything’s awesome all the time stink.”

Here’s the point: honesty and vulnerability are blessed.

Nobody is awesome all the time.

Be willing to share your story, trials, hurts, tears, challenges, and flaws.

Don’t be fake. We don’t want to be plastic people.

And one more thing…

Try not to use the word “awesome” too much.