In Search ofHeroes this Father’s Day
Here’s fitting story someone sent me from the Internet. Itillustrates the need in today's world for real heroes for people to emulate.
In a trial in the southern part of the United States, asmall-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand. Thewitness was a grandmotherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked,"Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I knowyou, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you'vebeen a disappointment to me. You lie, cheat on your wife, and you manipulatepeople and talk about them behind their backs. You think you are a big shotwhen you haven't the brains to realize you will never amount to anything morethan a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you."
The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, hepointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defenseattorney?" She replied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley sincehe was a youngster, too. He is lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. Hecan't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one ofthe worst in the entire state. Not to mention he has cheated on his wife withthree different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him."
The defense attorney nearly died. Then the judge asked bothcounselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, "Ifeither of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you both to theelectric chair!"
Years ago my then eighteen-year-old son’s school held a‘Heroes Banquet.’ Each student was asked to write a paper on their hero. Thestudents’ paper had to describe their hero, why they were a hero to them,stories about the hero, and the values and behaviors they had learned fromtheir hero. To my surprise, my son's hero was me. I won't bore you with thedetails but there never was a happier father on the face of this planet. My sonJonathan and his mother are a hard sell!
Heroes are leaders, whether they like it or not. OliverGoldsmith once said, "People seldom improve when they have no other modelbut themselves to copy after." Dante Alighieri says, "A great flamefollows a little spark." Good family and community heroes understand beinga hero is more caught than taught, seen than said, silent than loud, and insidethan outside.
Real leaders lead by influence, not authority. Charles Lauersays, "Leaders don't force people to follow. They invite them on thejourney." I would rather lead my family by influence than authority.Heroes don't shrug responsibility. They embrace it. That's a far cry fromtoday's strategy where a good scapegoat is nearly as welcome as a solution to aproblem. Heroes understand what Warren Buffett says, "It takes twentyyears to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it."
Heroes chart the course others will follow whether positiveor negative. That's the power of 'hero-ship.' John D. Rockefeller, Jr., said, "I believe that every right impliesa responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, aduty."
Thank God that there are still wise people who can discernthe difference between a hero and a zero. I hope we can too. Thank God for theleaders, both male and female, who accept the challenge to being a hero in theeyes of one or many.
And, in keeping with this coming Father’s Day, what the worldneeds now is fathers who are less zero and more hero. That’s Father power.
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