Heroes! Are you one?

Who are heroes? 

Are you one? 

Do you think you could be


one if there was a need? 

Webster defines hero as, among others:

            b :  an illustrious warrior
            c :  a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities
            d :  one who shows great courage

Last week, when I saw the picture of the men standing between the Baltimore Police and rioters: protecting the police by Van Applegate, chills ran up and down my arms. These men, who most of us will never know their names, stood up, stood between, stood in front of the men and women who were most likely their neighbors, friends, possibly even their families, to do what they thought was the right.

If I had my hat on, I would take it off to them. If I saw them on the street, I would have to stop and say, “Thank you. This country needs more like you.” I would shake their hands, each one of them.

What I saw gave me hope, hope of a good future. There are people who, no matter the cost-physically or relationally, would stand up for what is right. Of the eleven men in the picture, more than half were young men. I pray for more people like them.

My next thought was - What does it mean to do the right thing? I would define it as being selfless, caring, and empathetic, a person who values life, values others, and is respectful to the end. In the Bible, Jesus said that love is when someone is willing to lay down his or her own life for another.

But what do we see and read every day:

* a driver cutting everyone out so he/she can be in front.
* the person who ignores the hungry
* beatings
* abuse
* bullying
* theft
* murders

However, we don’t often hear stories of heroes who stepped out and did what was right for the good of someone else. Why? I hope it’s because the media doesn’t publish these stories. But what if that wasn’t the case! What if there are no stories to tell? Have we become, as a nation, so deprived that we don’t help others? Yes, we send money and aid to other counties, which was great, but, let us NOT forget to do what is right here at home.

So, again, I acknowledge those strong, selfless men in Baltimore who stood up for the greater good, no matter the cost to themselves.

Again I say, “Thank you!”