Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Heroes Still Do Life
There is this idea that once a hero--only a hero--it’s just not true. I was with one of my heroes this last week. They walk like a hero--they look like a hero--they talk like a hero. You smell it all around them. There’s just something of nobility inside of them. You feel it, you see it, you sense it. This guy is just a cut above–a "big" cut above. While they are busy being heroes, life doesn’t take a break or cut them slack in areas we all face every day.
In the past ten years, this hero--who worshipped his dad--also buried his dad. He got to come home long enough to be near his side as he uttered his last words--but he still had to make all the arrangements and bury him--then say good-bye to his mom and head back to "hero land."
In the past ten years, this hero watched his wife wrestle with issues related to her dad. He left her mom for something newer. Ever see a woman watch that happen to her mom and fear it for herself? This hero had to be a husband and all that entails.
In the past ten years, this hero would say good-bye to his little children to head to "no-man’s land," not knowing if he would come back. Did he say everything he should? Did he look at them long enough--knowing it may be his last look at them?
In the past ten years, this hero had a special needs child. Surely not our hero--he’s too busy with too many depending on him with too much at stake. Yes, our hero must now wrestle with doctors, prognosis, and a questionable future for his child—and, comfort his wife and explain to his children . . . and still go back and forth to "no-man’s land."
You know, I don’t think "hero-land" made him a hero by what he did there, but he was a hero because of what he did with what life served him day-in and day-out. He made "hero-land." He made it by consistency, faithfulness, and boldness that refused to give in to fearfulness. Walk tall hero--keep walkin’--runnin’ when you can. I believe in you and love watching you.
In the past ten years, this hero--who worshipped his dad--also buried his dad. He got to come home long enough to be near his side as he uttered his last words--but he still had to make all the arrangements and bury him--then say good-bye to his mom and head back to "hero land."
In the past ten years, this hero watched his wife wrestle with issues related to her dad. He left her mom for something newer. Ever see a woman watch that happen to her mom and fear it for herself? This hero had to be a husband and all that entails.
In the past ten years, this hero would say good-bye to his little children to head to "no-man’s land," not knowing if he would come back. Did he say everything he should? Did he look at them long enough--knowing it may be his last look at them?
In the past ten years, this hero had a special needs child. Surely not our hero--he’s too busy with too many depending on him with too much at stake. Yes, our hero must now wrestle with doctors, prognosis, and a questionable future for his child—and, comfort his wife and explain to his children . . . and still go back and forth to "no-man’s land."
You know, I don’t think "hero-land" made him a hero by what he did there, but he was a hero because of what he did with what life served him day-in and day-out. He made "hero-land." He made it by consistency, faithfulness, and boldness that refused to give in to fearfulness. Walk tall hero--keep walkin’--runnin’ when you can. I believe in you and love watching you.
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