Are you a Hero?

August 6, 2008

I have been thinking about heroes a lot lately.  For two reasons mainly, the newest and last Harry Potter book, and the fact we will be learning about the Biblical Kings David and Solomon throughout the Fall at my church.

The sad reality is that we have few heroes these days, and we really need them.

In past times, people could hear the stories of flawed, but great leaders, like David and Solomon, Mary Magdalene, Mother Teresa,  and, yes, Harry Potter, and learn from their lives.  Now we tend to pay so much attention to the weaknesses of heroes that we can’t benefit from their struggles and strengths.  The result is that, for us, greatness is defined by money, success, and fame, instead of by perseverance, courage, and faithfulness.

Yet there are heroes all around us, if we just choose to see them.  They are mothers, like my friend, Lisa, who goes to school and works and still provides a safe and happy home for her kids.  They are fathers, like my friend, Mark, who works long hours so that his family will know that they are loved and protected.  They are husbands, like my friend, Ken, who faithfully cares for his disabled wife.  They are Christian leaders, like my friend, Tim, who works diligently to help young people make the right choices.

The commonality in all the heroes I have described (and I admit I changed some of their names) is that they live by faith and not by sight.  They know they have chosen the more difficult path, but they can not choose any other, because it is the path to which God has called them.

To what path does God call you? 

Do you know a hero?