Heroes: Some Early Morning Thoughts

Although I am not one to be a fan of celebrities and I don't recall ever seeing anything he acted in, I was saddened to learn of the death of Christopher Reeve. He overcame a devastating injury and its resultant paralysis to create a new life for himself. He had dark moments, I have read, but he did not give into them. He and his wife, Dana (another hero), persisted not only in physical therapy, but in getting out there and speaking, acting, directing, helping others.

Helen Keller came to mind this morning, as well. She was blind and deaf from an early age, but, with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan (also a hero), she created a fine life, an exemplary life for herself. She wrote, she traveled, she spoke, she served.

As I think of these, I think also of the quiet heroes many of us know--the friends, the relatives, the neighbors--who also persist in spite of trials and afflictions, sometimes devastating. And there is no shame in getting help. Christopher Reeve had his Dana, Helen Keller had her Anne Sullivan. We all have God.

To me, these are true heroes, people who persisted and overcame and set a wonderful example for us all. They show us what true courage is.