Christopher Armstrong, The Dean of Blackburn, considers the part that heroes play in our society.

We all need heroes, role models, mascots, idols even. We can create them ourselves or accept them from elsewhere.

At this very moment America is choosing its hero for the next term in the White House - and oh! - what a fuss they make of it!

It may be Hillary or Barack or even John McCain but we will have to wait until 4 November to find out just who will carry the can for America and half the world.

Meanwhile children have their own heroes by popular acclaim. Whilst Heidi, Biggles or Dan Dare may have occupied the role for pervious generations of young people, it's Harry Potter today - that victimised schoolboy who is nevertheless courageous and intelligent.

There is something in Harry that is attractive, accessible and identifiable for both girls and boys.

We can put our trust in heroes, get inspiration or direction from them as well as losing our temper with them.

The representative figure has always played a critical role in human society and it is Jesus the Christian role model whom we consider carefully, especially during Lent as the Christian Church approaches Passion-tide and the climax of his suffering ministry.

Human kind has always been aware of its shortcomings. Failure, frustration and wickedness seem to abound. Why can't things be different, we ask.

It's an age-old story. The other age-old story is that human kind reckons it's OK, good enough, perhaps even perfect.

There are many illustrations of these two positions. Chaucer's pilgrims are examples of flawed humanity who travel hopefully - or Graham Greene's whisky priest.

Those who feel they are all sorted are exemplified by Lady Macbeth, Hitler or Saddam Hussein.

Problems with each category: yes. And we all fall across the spectrum.

So who will save us from ourselves and re-unite us with our creator?

Will politicians, priests or pop-stars? No.

The answer for Christians is God himself. But how can that be? If there is a God we cannot identify with him.

The mystery at the heart of Christianity is that God became human in the man Jesus and this man lived a controversial life that ended in murder.

Through his humanity we can identify with him as best we can, following in his footsteps, tailoring our lives to his pattern. (Some of our bloggers need to note that.) It is the climax of that life which we monitor closely at the end of Lent. Christ suffers as we suffer, though different by degree, please God.

He is not in control of his life as so often we are not in control either.

A young student whom I greatly admire has recently compared Antony Gormley's 100 figures on Sefton Beach, Another Place' with Penny Warden's series of paintings, The Journey' in Blackburn Cathedral.

Each depicts a representative figure. On the beach, the 100 cast-iron men are all gazing out to sea, looking for that other place while in the Cathedral, Penny Warden's figures are struggling on a journey.

We can stand in front of each of these figures - in the cathedral or on the beach, depending on the tide - and identify with them in some way.

So whom can you trust to be your hero: politician, priest, pop star, man of iron or painted figure?

I'll go for Christ and the long-term future.