What is a
hero?
Hero: (noun)
1. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life
3. A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities
(Dictionary.com)
I was reading "Cast of Characters" by Max Lucado last night and the word
hero caught my eye so I started to chew on it. Many times when you hear the word
hero
numerous things pop up in your head like the tv show Heroes :) or a fictional character. I, myself, even thought of Hercules and yes the Disney character. At first, the picture that crossed my mind was this big, physically strong, vigorous guy. However, that can be a false picture of what a
true hero
is.
Referencing back to the movie Hercules, he starts out looking like a typical civilian. Until later, he is faced with the eye catching physical features and some trials to go through to show is
real heroism. People probably think that Hercules is a great hero because he is so strong. Thou, I think there is much more to a
hero than his strength. A quote from the movie I liked is
"A true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart." 
Thinking more deeply on the word
hero
, here are a few adjectives I would use to describe a
hero: someone who shaped history, extraordinary, courageous, defender, guardian, visionary, protector, the will for self-sacrifice, and stood against the crowd. The book "Cast of Character" referenced Paul as a
hero (Paul shaped history and would die in the jail of a despot). Taking a quick look at the journey Paul went through I am sure many of us would not classify him as a
hero because he was so "noble, but passing; courageous, but small; and radical, yet unnoticed" (Lucado). Before he was a Christian leader he was a Christian-killer and he introduced himself as the worst sinner in history. Max Lucado also mentions that Paul's heart was so heavy at times, his pen would drag itself across the page and wrote "what a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death?"
Heroes are not always people that stand out in a crowd and some times are hard to identify. "For that reason, a
hero could be next door and you wouldn't know it" (Lucado). Have you ever thought of the guy who changes your oil, the baby-sitter, parole officer, teacher, deacon, or even Paul as a hero. In most cases these people do not fit the mold of a
hero because they just look too normal. For all those
heroes who are in the spotlight, I am sure there are many more that are in shadows. These people usually do not get the press or crowds or care to get them.
Now, here's some questions:
Do
heroes know when they are herioc?
Have you ever thought of Jesus as a
hero
?
In what ways do heroes seldomly look like a
hero?
Now, what is your picture of a
hero?
Psalm 16:1-3 "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.' The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!" (NLT)
Isaiah 42:13 "The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies." (NLT)
