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\u201cThis, to me, is the ultimately heroic trait of ordinary people: they say no to the tyrant and they calmly take the consequences of this resistance\u201d (Philip K. Dick).<\/p>\n
HEROES, IN THE WORDS OF A POPULAR SONG, COME IN EVERY SHAPE AND SIZE. There are the larger-than-life heroes, those of storybook stature who\u2019ve done deeds of great renown, and there are many others whose deeds have not been recorded in the history books but who nevertheless have acted heroically in their private circumstances. Heroism is not limited to any age, gender, or ethnic heritage. It is sometimes recognized and rewarded, and sometimes not. But one thing all heroes have in common is that they have acted with both courage and justice. They\u2019ve stood up for something that was honorable \u2014 despite the possibility of dire consequences.<\/p>\n
Although we normally think of heroes as those who have accomplished great exploits, it\u2019s not really the size of the accomplishment that makes the hero. It\u2019s the price that was paid and the strength that had to be mustered, even though the end result might not have been anything that made the front page of the newspaper. As Romain Rolland said, \u201cA hero is a man who does what he can.\u201d<\/p>\n
People, both men and women, do heroic things when they\u2019re willing to sacrifice personal benefit to some larger cause. A parent who gets up at three in the morning to tend to a sick child is a hero. A citizen who loses pay at work in order to serve jury duty is a hero. A teacher who pays special attention to a struggling student is a hero. The common denominator is that these people have a vision that extends beyond their own desires. They know that they live within the larger context of humanity, and they\u2019re eager to give something back to the world in return for the privilege of living in it for a while.<\/p>\n
True heroes don\u2019t brag about their heroism, nor do they congratulate themselves in their own minds for being stronger and braver than other folks. Heroes of the highest caliber are the exact opposite: they\u2019re humble. They understand the big picture in life and have been willing to subordinate their wants to the needs of the greater good.<\/p>\n
\u201cA hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself\u201d (Joseph Campbell).<\/p>\n
Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n