I'm sure you've heard the saying,
"Why be grounded with the chickens when you could be flying with the eagles?"
OK. Well why are we still pecking the ground with our eyes always looking down like the chickens in the pen. We have all been endowed with GREATNESS. We have been born to do amazing things. The circumstances we have been born into, the obstacles placed before us, the handicaps given us and the opportunities missed are not the reason we are not soaring with eagles. They may slow us down, make us work harder, make us learn more, and make us use more of our resources to get there, but we will get there if we truly want to.
One way to greatness I've found is Heroes. Everyone should have heroes.
As little children, we have heroes. We were not afraid to tell anyone who would listen. "I'm going to be just like Michael Jordan when I grow up." As we grow, we are less and less likely to tell people about our heroes. Maybe it's because we are embarassed about being "childish" or maybe our heroes change and it wouldn't be "cool" to say that my hero is my Dad.
Well, no matter what age we are, we NEED heroes!
Let me tell you about a few of my heroes:
Dale Murphy, former major league baseball player. "Murph" played for the Atlanta Braves most of his career. He was a 2 time MVP in the National league. He played in a number of All Star games, won multiple Golden Glove awards, was elected Sports Illustrated's Man of the Year and was very active in the communities he lived in. This is only part of why Murph is one of my heroes. Murphy retired from baseball after hitting 398 home runs. When he retired, almost without exception, everyone with 400 or more HR's had been elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. He retired to spend more time with his family. His wife and children, (all 8 of them), were more important than the individual honor of the HOF. He was also known as a gentleman, a sportsman, a man of integrity and a man of faith. I call that a hero.
My Parents, Del & Beth Wallace. Not people that the world would call heros, but I was always proud of being their son. I was taught values, respect and a work ethic from them. They not only taught these values, but they live them. My brothers, my sister and I were taught the value of not just working, but also of having fun. Trips to Mexico, family vacations to relatives houses and of course, you have to throw in the trip to Disneyland.
My Dad was a person, that if he decided to do something, you could consider it Done! He put his full energy into whatever he was passionant about. Running marathons, family, scuba diving, whatever subject he wanted to learn about or be the best at. He did it.
He passed away of cancer in 2000, but the way he faced the thing that most of us dread, was inspirational to me. His memorial service was amazing to me. I didn't know he even knew that many people. You never realize how many other lives you touch during your on life. Even an "Ordinary Joe" like my Dad. I call that a hero.
Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. President Hickley spent most of his years in full-time church service and spent the last 12 years of his life as the Prophet of the LDS Church. The man was always so positive that even if he was speaking of something church members were doing or needed to do better, you always felt uplifted after listening to him speak. He was a model of what we should all be. Some one who served selflessly, loved his family, worked hard at everything he did and loved the Lord. He was a hero.
So Who Is Your Hero?
Everyone needs a hero. If you don't have a hero, find someone who has the qualities you desire and then emulate those qualities. Use your hero as a goal to work towards. There are heroes all around us. Your hero doesn't need to be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Your hero could be right there in front of you.
Find your hero!
Do It Right Now.
Why walk when you can fly? - Mary Chapin Carpenter from the Stones in the Road CD.
