Real Life Heroes

God has given each of you some special abilities;
be sure to use them to help each other,
passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.
 1 Peter 4:10 TLB





For several weeks now, news reports have been filled with stories of unrest and violence in Kenya.  Since the tragedy at Westgate, there have been riots, killings, and one Salvation Army corps was burned in Mombasa.  The majority of trouble has been in the eastern part of the country, but we are also seeing signs of fear in our own little community.  Today, for example, we were surprised to see extra security barriers outside our local market, and an officer advised me to go in and get out quickly to avoid the crowd. 

 

Our Army family is even taking precautions.  The police watch over our compound every night.   And last Sunday, the leaders of the Mbale Division hired armed guards for the Divisional gathering in which we participated.  There's very little chance of an attack in Kakamega, of course, but everyone does seem to be a bit on edge. 

 

In response to all this, I have decided not to read any more news reports.  Instead, I've decided to focus on the heroes.  Like the four-year old American girl who was saved by a Muslim during the Westgate massacre, and the British Royal Marine who saved over 100 lives by constantly running back inside the mall to bring out more frightened people.  I'm focusing on the heroes because I've always believed that, for every person willing to commit some evil act, there are millions of others who will perform an act of love. 

 

As I worshipped in Mbale this last Sunday, I saw heroes all around me.  The aged soldier who proudly marched with the Army flag for miles, anxious that he be at the meeting on time.  The officer who knelt and washed my shoes after I had walked through the mud, the house mother who spends her days caring for severely handicapped children, the cadets who live in the tool shed just so they can one day become ministers of the gospel.  They're all heroes.

Cooks preparing meals for over 300 students at our Mitoto School for the Blind

And I can't forget my personal heroes on the other side of the world, like those at the Clearwater, Florida Corps and in the Florida Division who made our new generator possible, the heroes in the four USA territories that have pledged funds for our new Training College, and all the donors and prayer warriors who give of themselves, their time and their resources just so we can keep advancing the gospel in Kenya.

It's quiet humbling, really, but I guess that's why we should call them heroes.  They don't have capes or leap over tall buildings in a single bound.  They don't stop bullets with their bare hands.  They don't have special powers.  They're just ordinary people who, despite the difficulties and challenges they face in their own lives, do what they can to make things a little better for someone else.

 

And the most amazing thing is, with faith in God, anyone can be a hero.  So Lord, I want to be one.

 

"We can be in our day what the heroes of faith were in their day

- but remember, at the time they didn't know they were heroes."

 A.W. Tozer