Heroes, People Who Inspire, and Motivators: Part II Heroes.

As I wrote in my last post, a hero is defined as “a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.”  I added “someone who puts others above self; often and great personal sacrifice.”  A lot of people will identify professional athletes or celebrities as heroes solely on their fame.  I’m not sure that qualifies unless it is someone like Tim Tebow who uses his fame to advance several charitable causes.  We often think of military servicepersons and first responders.  Maybe we think about a single parent who works two jobs to put food on the table but still manages to read bedtime stories to the kids.  Maybe we think about a doctor or nurse who volunteers to go to a war-torn country to administer aid to the sick and wounded.  A U.S. Marine, Jason Dunham and a Navy SEAL, Michael Monsoor, both threw themselves on grenades and used their bodies to shield their Shipmates from the blast.  Both were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.  Heroic!

A few years ago, a co-worker and I were talking about running.  Master Sergeant, Tim Otis, is a United States Marine, ultra-marathoner, and two-time finisher of the Old Dominion 100 Mile Cross Country Run.  During Tim’s first attempt at the Old Dominion, he made it 92 miles before his body couldn’t take another step.  While he didn’t finish the race, I certainly consider that a win!  He was telling me about why he runs so much.  He said that he never wants to have to look a widow in the eye and tell her that her husband is dead because he couldn’t run far enough or fast enough to get to him.  Wow!  Tim prays that he never has to be put in that situation, but he is preparing for it nonetheless.  Heroic!

I think the most significant hero in my life is my sister, Mary.  My older brother, Mike, has a degenerative kidney disorder and was on a transplant list.  The doctors told him that his best shot for a match was from a family member.  While all of us were ready to offer ours, Mary was selected as the closest match.  Last summer, she and Mike went into surgery and saved Mike’s life.  While Mike is still having some minor complications from the recovery, the kidney is functioning perfectly.  Mary has fully recovered. Not only is Mary a heroine to Mike, but she is a heroine to Mike’s wife and four sons.

There is a passage in the Bible that reads, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13).  Is it love or is it heroic?  I guess in a lot of cases it is both.

I’m curious to know who are heroes in the lives of those who are reading this.