Five Minute Friday: Hero

We live in a society that loves recognition.  People love to be named and noticed for the great things they achieve or accomplish.  From a very young age, we are exposed to the concept of a “super hero,” where a man of courage stands atop a tall building in a darkened city, cape flapping in the breeze, ready to fight evil at a moment’s notice.  We are drawn to stories of men and women who selflessly risk it all to pull someone from a mangled car or a burning building.  I admire these people and hope that I would act the same way if the situation presented itself.

As I grow older though, I am finding that my definition of a hero is changing.  For me, heroes are everyday people who live out their faith.  They are humble in spirit, tend to shun the spotlight, and don’t waste time with pretenses.  They make mistakes, but they are not afraid to admit to them, and endeavor to learn from them.  They are people of integrity.  They stand for righteousness, even at the risk of great personal loss.  They praise the Lord and see His goodness, even in the midst of cancer treatment.  When life deals a heavy blow and the battle is raging around them, they get up every single day and see it as a day full of His mercies and covered in grace. 

These are my “caped crusaders.”  I am blessed to be surrounded by such people in my life.  As I walk through life with them, I aspire to learn from them what it means to “live out loud” as we seek Christ together.