I Need A Hero
By Gwen Ashley
A Devotional presented to the Beltsville Seventh-day Adventist Church Board of Elders March 17, 2003

It was in a concrete playground in a fenced-in public school yard. Fifth and sixth graders were playing games during the lunch break. Suddenly someone yelled out, “fight, fight” and the children ran to a corner of the playground, clustering around two 11-year-old boys. The one boy who was a lot bigger than the other was obviously spoiling to fight, while the smaller boy clearly wanted to be somewhere else.

The bigger boy taunted the other by calling him names; dancing around him; throwing punches and pulling back just short of hitting the overmatched smaller boy. The on-looking children egged the boy on with their own chorus of comments, gleeful at the prospect of seeing someone hurt.

Then a fifth grade girl, much smaller than both boys stepped into the circle between the two boys and said with all the authority she could muster, “stop this.” The other children, too, froze in surprise. Almost immediately and simultaneously the bigger boy and the circle of children recovered and turned on the little girl, shouting, “what you going to do with it?” The little girl shot back, “You shouldn’t be fighting, it’s not right.” By then the smaller boy had faded into the circle of children and the bigger boy mad at the intrusion and seeing his intended prey had escaped, yelled again, and he pushed the little girl, “Yeh, what you got to do with it?” The little girl’s eyes filled with tears, but she held her ground. “It’s not right to be fighting,” she repeated, her voice trembling, but still holding its conviction.

“You better mind your own business,” the bigger boy yelled, as he pushed her again. She was clearly overmatched, but she wasn’t giving up.

Just then the school bell rang and all of the children tore off towards the building entrance, leaving the little girl standing by herself, crying.

I witnessed that scene more than 45 years ago in Brooklyn, New York. I have never forgotten it, because that little girl epitomizes the kind of role model I search for and to whom I am drawn.

That little girl was a hero to me. Like Bonnie Tyler said in a 70s rock song, “I need a hero.”

We all need a hero. Someone who inspires us to usefulness; someone who makes us realize how pointless are our self-absorption and selfishness; someone who motivated us to make a real difference even when it isn’t recognized or appreciated.

In taking stock of the people I have admired as heroes, from whom comes my purest inspiration, over the years, I find that they have several things in common:

1. They are driven by principle. They do the right thing simply because it is the right thing. 2 Kings 5 – in the story of Naaman the leper the maid saved him even though he was her enemy.

2. They are passionate about what they believe in and what they are passionate about is worth the effort. Paul said in Philippians 3:13, 14 “The one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.”

3. They are clear thinkers and are controlled by reasoned thought. 1 Samuel 25 records David’s rage to destroy Nabal’s household, but deferred to Abigail’s wisdom when she pointed out the consequence of his course.

4. They are not distracted by any political agenda. Nehemiah 6:3, 4 – Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall. He was on a mission for God and nothing was going to stop him.

5. They are vulnerable. They are not larger than life; leap tall buildings at a single bound movie heroes. They are real people who have fears and misgivings and who can be hurt. 1 Kings 19 – Elijah fled from Jezebel even though God had just rained fire down from heaven.

Heroes give our lives valid reference, and if for no other reason, as I said, we need a hero. May I recommend the quintessential hero – Jesus Christ?

The next time someone wrongs you, slanders your name, destroys your property, disrespects you, think of our hero, Jesus Christ. Think of our hero being gracious and forgiving; think of how our hero did not retaliate in kind; think of our hero in fact, praying for those who hurt him. Then refer Jesus’ behavior to your own. Anyone can spit out epithets; anyone can gossip; anyone can whine and complain; anyone can lie; anyone can always see the negative side. People who act in those ways are a dime a dozen.

But to choose to do the right thing; to choose to make a positive difference; to choose to be selfless and good – that takes real character and it is an infinitely more rewarding way to live – and to die.

Jesus Christ proved that. Isaiah 53:11 says that Jesus saw the travail of His soul and was satisfied.

So, we need a hero. Can we be heroes to each other?

This page last updated on Sunday January 29, 2006 11:22 AM

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