The Mystery of Heroes

Why do men and women go off to war? What is it that compels them?

Sure there are times when we are forced to fight because of a ruthless dictator or humanistic intentions like greed and pride. But most often wars are fought for a “higher” cause of some kind. Sure we can argue whether the crusades were good or bad and whether the leadership was right or wrong, but what about the normal foot soldier?

Where does the idea of serving your country and patriotism come from? Where does the idea that there is something more important than SELF come from? Why do we celebrate war heroes and put them on a pedestal?

My father came to Las Vegas on his 90^th birthday for a family reunion. We went to a show on the strip in Vegas and I informed the performers that my father, a WW2 veteran, was in the audience celebrating his 90^th birthday. When the performer introduced him, the callous Vegas audience full of locals and tourists gave him a standing ovation. Many, even beyond the family, had tears in their eyes.

Every month we get news stories of our heroes coming home from the latest front to a filled auditorium and to a cheering, tear filled crowd.

Every month we hear of firemen, policemen, and normal people who rescue strangers from a burning car, a crumbling home, and even a lunatic with a gun. We celebrate them, give them medals, and cheer these people who put their life at risk to save others.

We celebrate heroes because they remind us that there is something, some mysterious thing, more important that SELF. Heroes remind us that ideals and ideas are worth dying for. Heroes show us that there is no greater love than to sacrifice yourself of another.

What is this ideal that is celebrated? What is this mysterious thing? Christianity tells us this is how we were made: in the image of God. That difference between us and the rest of creation is what causes us to seek something outside and above ourselves to believe in and 

even sacrifice for.

A mystery that we are willing to die for.