Heroes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzccgMy0P6s

A hero is someone to be admired. In this case, a "Good Samaritan" who helps a stranger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQs36L48Mfk

“Thank you for doing what had to be done and for being such wonderful men and women for our country and for me too. My husband died for this country and he was so proud of all of his comrades in service. God bless you all!” – Dianne Ford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe9kT6ko48k

We remember the heroes who ran into the burning buildings to rescue those trapped inside, and the dauntless passengers on Flight 93 who laid down their lives to save others, including almost certainly those of us in the U.S. Capitol. – Todd Tiahrt

Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to the eyes of men. Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow strong or weak; and at last some crisis shows what we have become. – Brooke Foss Westcott

“As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them, remembered for taking humankind’s first small step on a world beyond our own.” – Charles F. Bolden Jr., NASA Administrator

The historian Douglas Brinkley, who interviewed Mr. Armstrong for a NASA oral history, described him as “our nation’s most bashful Galahad.” His family called him “a reluctant hero who always believed he was just doing his job.”

“That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Alden Armstrong

Your legacy will forever live among mankind.

– Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn

“Dalek: I will talk to the Doctor.
The Doctor: Oh will you? That's nice. Hello!
Dalek: The Dalek stratagem nears completion. The fleet is almost ready. You will not intervene.
The Doctor: Oh really? Why's that, then?
Dalek: We have your associate. You will obey or she will be exterminated.
The Doctor: No.
Dalek: Explain yourself.
The Doctor: I said, "No."
Dalek: What is the meaning of this negative?
The Doctor: It means, "No."
Dalek: But she will be destroyed!
The Doctor: No! 'Cause this is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna rescue her. I'm gonna save Rose Tyler from the middle of the Dalek fleet, and then I'm gonna save the Earth. And then—just to finish off—I'm gonna wipe every last stinking Dalek out of the sky!
Dalek: But you have no weapons, no defenses, no plan.
The Doctor: Yeah! And doesn't that scare you to death? Rose?
Rose: Yes, Doctor?
The Doctor: I'm coming to get you.” – Russell T. Davies

“My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than when they found it, whether in small ways or great ones. Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results... but it is the effort that's heroic, as I see it. Win or lose, I admire those who fight the good fight.” – George R.R. Martin

One of my heroes in fiction is Atticus Finch in the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” He shows great courage and compassion when he is appointed by the court to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a young white woman. Although many of the local citizens disapprove, Atticus agrees to defend Tom to the best of his ability.

Despite significant evidence of Tom's innocence, the jury convicts him. Atticus’ 6 year-old daughter Jem's faith in justice is badly shaken, as is Atticus', when a hopeless Tom is shot and killed while trying to escape from prison.

Atticus, who is the moral center of the novel, teaches Jem one of the most significant features of courage in a statement that foreshadows his motivation for defending Tom, when he tells her that courage is "when you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what".

I was so impressed with Atticus, that I named one of my sons after him.

Dad,

This is the best email I've ever gotten!! I laughed out loud. And I would never have had any doubt! I'd have said to the other 7 contestants, (before it all started) "Just don't get your hopes up."

You were born strong Dad, but your total strength is due to another gift you were given--an incomparable tenacity. It's something you can't give away. Years of dedicated work have brought you a Samson-like strength. And it hides under such a mild, gentle exterior. But for those of us who know you (and LOVE you) your victory is NO surprise!!

Way to go Grandpa! We often say around here (strangely the occasion comes up surprisingly often) that there isn't anyone we'd rather go down a dark alley with than Grandpa!

Congratulations on a well-deserved and absolutely expected victory.

Your very proud daughter,

Ellen

A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU. One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked at the ceiling and flatly stated. “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you 15 minutes.” The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed. “Here I am God. I’m still waiting.” It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor and cold-cocked him, knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, “What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that?” The Marine calmly replied, “God was too busy today protecting America’s troops who are protecting your right to say stupid ‘bleep’ and act like an ‘bleep.’ So he sent me.

To me, a hero is someone who struggles against overwhelming odds for a worthy cause and never gives up, like the father of six children who had the sole responsibility for raising the family, beginning when the youngest was in diapers.

My heroes are my family members. They have been an inspiration to me and have brought so much joy to my life. My wife is talented in many areas and very supportive to each of us. Without her, our lives would be much less full. The three kids have excelled in personal achievement and are raising wonderful grandchildren. The family is what it is all about and mine could not be better. I thank the Lord for them.

Another Olympic example of a hero finishing the race was one my son and I witnessed in Los Angeles. Dave Moorcraft from Great Britain, entered the 1984 Olympics as the world-record holder in the 5,000 meters. He also entered the games without fully recovering from a stress fracture in his leg, an attack of hepatitis and a pelvis disorder that sometimes kept him from running. After two laps (of 12 1/2), Moorcraft was in last place, running with painful, choppy strides. In the stands, his wife was hoping he would quit but knew he wouldn't. When the winner crossed the finish line and the crowd roared, Moorcraft still had a lap to go, which he finished almost unnoticed.

"Once you quit," he explained to Greenspan later, "It's easy to do it again. I did not want to set a precedent for the future."

These examples show the best of the human spirit – pride, courage, dedication and perseverance. When we recall Akhwari stumble across the finish line (a preceding contribution, “Not all the heroes are winners”) or Moorcraft hobble the last lap alone, it helps us transpose these qualities into our own lives. When things are not going well for us, these scenes can inspire us to keep going. Maybe we won't call in sick with a backache or stop short of finishing an important task because of frustration or break a promise to take our kid to the park because we're tired.

We must remember that in the race of life, as in any other race, if we are to receive the reward, we must endure to the end. We must not quit but finish the race.

Film maker Bud Greenspan was packing up his cameras after the men's marathon at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. An Ethiopian named Mamo Wolde had won the race in an emotional tribute to his teammate, two-time defending champion Abebe Bikila. Bikila had fractured his leg and couldn't finish the race. Greenspan knew he had compelling footage, the kind that has defined his award-winning Olympic films.

Suddenly a reporter ran up to him.

"You ought to film this," the man said. Greenspan looked up.

Into the darkened stadium hobbled a solitary figure, his right leg bandaged in two places. He winched with every step. The race had been over for more than an hour, but John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania still ran. The several thousand spectators who had lingered in the stadium began to clap, slowly and steadily, as Akhwari made his way around the track. When finally he stumbled across the finish line, holding his right damaged leg with both hands, the crowd roared.

Greenspan recorded every painful triumphant moment.

"I asked him, 'Why'd you do this? You were in such pain, and you couldn't win,'" Greenspan recalled. "He looked at me like I was crazy." 'Mr. Greenspan, I don't think you understand. My country did not send me 5000 miles to start the race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish it'"

Likewise, our Heavenly Father did not send us to earth just to start the race of life but to endure to the end and finish it, no matter what the obstacles.

“People who have a nice house in a nice neighborhood and have clean sheets every night, they’re the ones who are looking for heroes. Not kids who grow up and have five to a bed with no sheets on it at all. You’re lucky to have a blanket to cover up with. The average person doesn’t understand that. Heroes? There’s no such thing!” – Lee Trevino (pro golfer)

My heroes are my Mom and Dad. My Dad because of his honesty and complete faith in our church and my Mom because of her sacrifice for her children. And for the great love and devotion they showed their children.

Jesus is the greatest hero ever to live.