Moments of Heroism

We are all drawn toward heroic figures, perhaps in part because they teach and impress us in extraordinary ways; and perhaps because they allow us to imagine ourselves bigger and more powerful than we think we are. People who act heroically come in all shapes and sizes. They may even escape our notice until the effects of their heroism spread widely. My spiritual belief is that every human is potentially heroic; but I also think we should praise and emulate those whose heroism is huge and astonishing.

Greta Thunberg is an amazing small young woman from what she terms a small country (Sweden), but she has awakened several billion people to the fact that so many still refuse or fail to recognize: we have overheated our planet to a point of real danger. At age sixteen she shows herself to be much wiser and bolder than so many older people who should be leading our way.

Stephen Hawking, who passed away last year, was as overwhelming an example of mind over matter as one could ever imagine. He changed science forever, but he also changed our perceptions of disability and limitation. People like him cause us to re-think the very process of thinking. He and others who overcome enormous hurdles inspire us to never give up, never settle for less than what we know we can contribute to our world.

Ask any performer what an artistic life is like...if they are honest, they will tell you it requires a degree of heroism and a lot of determination. For most, the hurdles are huge. A world which craves the arts so often fails to reward its artists in even the smallest ways. When I heard and learned about the Choir of Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge, who just concluded a wonderful U.S. tour, I was reminded about Stephen Hawking. I was also reminded how admirable it is that a group of young adults, whose lives are undoubtedly challenging and complicated as most are, could sing a daunting repertoire with a level of power and beauty that we rarely hear. They emerged from their most recent exhausting performance with smiles and boundless energy. They renewed once again the hope of every composer and musician and audience member that somehow, the sheer heroism of the arts in the face of peril and trials will carry civilization on to the next generation.

Not everyone needs to overcome huge odds or perform miracles in order to be heroic. Extending a helping hand to a person in need, or congratulating someone on an unnoticed but remarkable deed accomplished, can be just as heroic. If each of us shared just a tiny bit of heroism every day, imagine what an idyllic world this would be!

--James Gibson

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