I have been thinking alot about the word heros. I know that probably sounds a bit odd but there is good reason for my thoughts. Part of my reason for thinking on the concept of heros is because my husband and I work with the young children of our church and we are spending a month studying on “Super Heros”. Most of us have grown up with cartoon super heros who showed us super hero powers such as flying, or leaping over buildings, climbing up walls with spider webs coming from their hands, super strength and a whole variety of other special skills.
It got me to wondering what it is about heros that attracts us to them; what are they made of. Why do heros do the things that they do? Most of the time heros are fighting for justice, in other words fighting against the bad guys/gals, trying to protect other everyday non-heros from harm. I think as we grow up, our understanding of what a hero is changes a bit. I think we are attracted to the goodness in a hero or their ability to protect and to serve. It is admirable and desirable to be capable of doing the right thing, for the right reason.
In my mind, a hero is someone who does something unexpected in a challenging way that helps/protects/inspires/encourages another person who is not in a position to do it for themselves at the time. A hero is someone who makes a split second decision to reach out and make a difference even if the cost is high-such as a stranger who rushes to protect another person from a crime, a threat, a bad decision, or a moment of danger.
Sometimes a hero is a person who is “just doing their job” in their own words; but to another ordinary person their commitment to the deed is extra-ordinary because of the level of commitment to performing the deed comes with high risk or a high cost to the person choosing to take action. A police officer, a fireman/woman, a postal worker, a teacher, a store clerk, military men and women…the list goes on and on; these people are heros in my book.
What about the volunteer or caregiver who takes extra measure to seek a solution to another person in need? Are they a hero? What about people who put themselves out on the front line to fight for what they believe in even when it is not popular; are they heros? I believe that they are.
I think about those people who fight for the poor, aged, disabled, ill, those who wage a war against cancer, domestic violence, drug & alcohol addictions, human trafficking, homelessness, abortion, abuse/neglect, children without families or without basic needs being met. The people who champion for an awareness or for changes to existing circumstances just because it is the right thing to do…I believe these people are heros. They are an inspiration!
Miep Gies died yesterday at age 100. She was a hero but she didn’t like to think of herself that way. She was an office worker in the employ of Anne Frank’s father Otto Frank; she hid Anne Frank and her family and friends in a secret room in a warehouse during the years that Hitler was rounding up Jews to kill them, during the Holocaust. She is the woman who bicycled around the city finding food to feed them, and who eventually found the pages of Anne Frank’s diary when they were arrested. She risked her own life to do what was the right thing to do to protect other human beings in extra-ordinary difficult circumstances.
There are so many different kinds of heros in our every day lives if only we stop to think about it. I think the act of a hero is a call from God to step outside of ourselves to be the hands and feet of Jesus…to be the best person that we can be.
Do you know someone like this? Write me a comment and give them a little plug. Most heros are unsung heros because they don’t believe that they deserve attention for doing what they consider the right thing to do. And, maybe in one sense they don’t…because we should all be doing these things…but the truth of the matter is, that without examples how will others learn to be heros in their own right? We must hold up examples of special people who do acts of heroism…because in doing that we are encouraging more of that kind of behavior.
So is there a hero that you know of doing something wonderful? What is your hero made of…tell us all about them. Please comment here and let us know about this person and what they are doing to make the world a better place! Thanks for being a light!
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Where to even begin?
I think that people like YOU are heroes – for taking care of children who need you. Teaching them life skills and assuring them that they do anything…be anything…you are instilling self esteem into their hearts.
I believe that Barb is a hero – for helping so many teachers and for showing us all how to reuse, recycle and reduce (she owns http://www.treasures4teachers.org – a non profit warehouse that helps the community). She is not rich but when her head hits the pillow, she knows she has done was she was born to do.
I think that people working with teens are heroes. I have no idea how they do it. I LOVE early childhood and those teenagers scare the heck out of me. It takes a hero to counter the crap they are programmed to believe by the media these days.
I think anyone advocating for human justice (from the pre born to the elderly) is an every day hero. When the world tells us these people don’t matter, there are those who know better – and are willing to fight for it, even if they lose friends. Several of my friends falls into this category.
I think my father is a hero, for sure. Arrested by the Russian police for sharing the Gospel, held in jail and interrogated for hours, money stolen by the mafia to be used on the black market. He could have given up at any time over the last 30 years – but he did not. He continues to return to remote areas time and time again; to help in areas where no celebrity is working…cameras nearby (insert laughter now). You won’t hear these stories on the news – his name is not famous enough and he is not asking for attention for his deeds. Simply doing what he knows his heart has been called to do. An every day hero.
Okay, Lorraine. I’ve taken up enough of your comment space. Holy toledo!!!!!!
My hero is anyone who champions for peace, harmony and consideration towards others. It could be as simple as a teacher educating others of those values. More specifically, I always loved the work and words of a small child who spoke for millions- Mattie Stepanek. Space will not allow all that needs to be said about this young man. His precious life was cut way too short, however, his legacy will travel through the years by the works of others and his mother’s determination to see that all know of the “messenger”. Her book, MESSENGER, chronicles this amazing story.
Please read it to learn more about one of my heroes.
Space does not allow for me to list all the people I think of as heroes, but I will mention two of my Top Ten:
Ralph P. Brown is an uber talented pointillist artist who has completely transformed his life from the inside out. He shares his Mohawk Indian culture by living his life and is one of the most amazing human beings on the planet. You can learn more about him if you visit http://www.mirroredwindows.com. His artwork and his writings will stir your soul.
Sheila Carlson Davis is a charming and spiritual woman who grew up in a rural small town in Nebraska, became a teacher and has been instrumental in helping 5th graders in several states learn-in addition to a common curriculum-everything there is to know about Peace, literature, acceptance and becoming their best selves. She creatively gave her students every advantage she could imagine. Now retired, she continues to teach the world by the living of her life.
I admire many people who have influenced my own life but these two are standouts in the department of “My Favorite Hero.”
It’s just a pity, Rainy, that you can’t post a blog we can relate to! JUST TEASING.
Hugs
Mother Connie
I have to say Shara, Louise and Connie that the word hero can be a somewhat difficult thing to describe…however, what continues to amaze me is that the human spirit recognizes exactly what a hero is and what a hero does.
I think every person on the planet has moments in their life when they are offered the opportunity to act in a heroic way. The world is a better place when each and everyone of us chooses to do so. Thanks for commenting!