Johann Bugenhagen: A Pastor's Pastor

» H2O - HEROES

By Al Batt
(Originally published in "HeartTouchers" e-mail newsletter http://www.HeartTouchers.com)

I listened to Ray Charles sing "America the Beautiful"
the other morning. It gave me a lump in my throat.
Then I listened to Kate Smith's rendition of "God Bless
America." My eyes grew misty. I love this country. I love
the people who live in this country. Like most us of us,
I don't just live in America, it lives within me. It is a land
filled with heroes. I once asked my father what was the
biggest event, other than family things in his life. Without
hesitation, he answered, "Pearl Harbor." When I asked
him why, he told me that it was because of all of the heroes.

I have taught classes in which I have asked students to
name the five wealthiest people in the world, the last five
Super Bowl MVPs, ten actors who have won an
Academy Award and ten Grammy winners. How
do my students do at this exercise? They are terrible
at it. Very few are able to name more than two or three
of the thirty names. These people are all famous, but
we have difficulty remembering who they are. I then ask
my charges to name five teachers who make them want
to learn, five people who have taught them something
good that is worth knowing, ten friends or family members
who have helped them through a tough time and ten
people who they enjoy spending time with. How do
the students do in this assignment? They do very
well -- often too well, writing down more names than
I asked for. Why does this happen? It is a simple
lesson for us all. The people who make a difference
in our lives are not the rich, the famous or the ones
with the most awards. The people who make a
difference in your life and in my life are the ones who care.

Take this day to hug those you love and tell them that
you love them. Write a note or make a phone call to
someone who has made a difference in your life and
tell him or her that he or she has made a difference.
Be remembered by showing someone that you care.
I realize that athletes, businessmen, singers, and
actors can be heroes. We have a tendency to make
them so. I hope that they all strive to be the kind that
we all can look up to. I also know that we all have
learned that true courage is demonstrated regularly
by ordinary people rising above hopeless situations.
Ordinary folks who show us that they care. We all
watched transfixed as the firefighters, police officers
and emergency workers risked their lives by rushing
fearlessly into burning buildings on the East Coast to
save the lives of others. They are all heroes.

We watched our TV sets as people arrived at the sight
of the national tragedy to provide food, blood, clothing
and money. They are all heroes.

Those who serve in our military and sacrifice much to
keep us free are heroes. Those who remember others
in their prayers -- they are heroes, too.

All these people are what makes this country the
greatest country on earth. We don't have to look very
far to find heroes. Do not doubt for a second that our
local firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel
would do the same. I live in a rural area and can testify to
the bravery of volunteer firemen. They are all heroes.

The medical professionals who perform daily miracles
are heroes. Our teachers who teach our children to be
better than what they see on the news and our clerics
who help us make sense of what troubles us -- they are
heroes.

But we don't even have to look that far to find a hero. If you
want to see a hero, look in a mirror. Become a keeper of hope.
Why not help the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, the
United Way, a church, a school, a service club or any
number of other wonderful organizations? It is easy to
volunteer and someone is always looking for help.
Volunteering will make you a better person and
it will keep this country great. Share a smile with
everyone you see. Stop and visit someone at a nursing
home. Such a visit will do you good. And you know
what? If you do any of these things, you will show you
care and you will make a difference. You will be a hero.
Thanks to you and others like you, the eagle still flies
high and America is still the beautiful.

Al Batt
SnoEowl@aol.com

Write Al and let him know your thoughts on his story!

_______________________________

Al Batt lives on a farm near Hartland,
Minnesota. Besides being a husband to Gail,
father and grandfather; Al is a newspaper
columnist, a radio and TV personality, a
storyteller, a tour leader and an avid birder.

-- posted by H2O