Heroes

Everyone has heroes. And I'm not talking about a super-hero. No, I'm talking about someone that we look up to, we respect, and we believe in. 

I think it's important for us to have heroes. When we have heroes, we strive to be like them. We work to improve ourselves. We should always be continually learning and trying to make ourselves better people, and heroes help us accomplish that. I have a few different heroes, and when I look at them, I find their character traits that I want to emulate, and I work towards that. Yes, my heroes are human beings. Yes, they have faults and they aren't perfect. But every hero has something that you admire, something you want to copy. Heroes are not people like Adolf Hitler. He may have been effective at what he did, but effectiveness in killing people is not something we should try to achieve.  

Heroes cannot be defined by a single definition or explanation. Everyone has a different idea about what a hero is. My idea of a hero is probably different from your idea of a hero. A hero for me is someone who does not allow society to influence or change his belief or actions. Someone who goes against the normal flow of things. Someone who can rise up above society and what everyone else believes, and can stand for what is right. Someone who does not view or treat certain people different simply because of their race, size, gender, or social status; but someone who will treat everyone as an equal human being. Someone who does not allow themselves to be defined by the beliefs of those around them. Someone who will speak out with confidence on their beliefs, even if no one else agrees. That is what I think is a hero. 

I have two heroes: Martin Luther King and Mrs. Gage. Martin Luther King didn't allow society to bring him down or change his beliefs. He stood up for what he believed and he got things done. He BELIEVED that his ideas could be achieved, and they were. He stood firm, even in the face of great opposition. He stood up for what was right and he fought. He is a hero. Mrs. Gage is my debate coach. She's not as famous and Martin Luther King, but she's a hero to me. She has always stood up for the rights of the unborn. She's done things to further the pro-life movement. She speaks out about her beliefs, because she believes them to be right. Not only this, but she has had an impact on my own life. Throughout debate, she has always been willing to talk to me about anything. She encourages me, but she is also willing to give constructive criticism. Because of the manner in which she gives me criticism, I have been willing to listen and take to hear what she says. She's helped to make me a better person. 

In my opinion, all heroes have one thing in common: They leave a positive impact. Whether it's Martin Luther King who left a positive impact on civil rights movement... or Mrs. Gage, who is still leaving a positive on those around her and on myself, all heroes in some way change those around them for the better. Of course, the ultimate hero would be Jesus Christ. We should all strive to make ourselves more like Him. 

John Piper put it well, I think. He said, "All heroes are shadows of Christ."