Having heroes! It doesn’t mean worship… it means acknowledging that we are not there yet and need others for clues and signs to help. It’s the privilege of their inspiration and tapping into valuable lessons of those who have walked the path and can show us a glimpse of what the life we want look like.

Sadly, there is a wrong understanding by those who believe we shouldn’t honor people, just God. Others say we should stop being weak to depend on people. We hear statements like ”I just believe in myself” or “Only God is my shepherd, I listen to no one else”. I know because I used to be like that. I held to high regards my Lord Jesus Christ and feel that others are undeserving of honor. However I found that in the midst of putting God above all else, which is not wrong, I’m elevating myself above others too, which is dead wrong. Pushing others down lower thanmyself, I mentally de-value them. I found myself a God fearing man but yet a dishonoring person.

I think having heroes really meant that we more honoring and respectful. Admiration is a sign of humility. We don’t have to worship our heroes for they are still imperfect human beings. We don’t have to chase them for inspiration for every single area of their life. However we can honor them for the areas they are better than us and have something to inspire and show us. We ought to give credit and encouragement where its due especially when these are things they never ask for. 

Most of my heroes are inspirational people who have lived their values by their actions. Although most of them are sadly dead, they lived within me. David the Psalmist and great leader, Jacob from the bible, Rich Mullins the artiste and missionary, Henri Nouwen the writer, Walt Disney the great innovator and leader, Keith Green the pastor and musician, Mother Theresa the cultural icon (okay at least for me she is), Thomas Merton and many many others. 

Some of my heroes who are alive today are Jesus Christ, my pastors, co-workers, my children’s ministry team, my wife and those at a distant, Shelywn Hughes, John Maxwell, Craig Jutila, George Barna, Robin Sharma, Brennan Manning, Malcolm Galdwell. All for different areas of life.

Have heroes and choose them carefully beause they are clues and signsboards, God placed for us in the path He direct us to go. I learned so much from people and truly having heroes and emulating their thoughts and their way of live has been something that made the biggest difference in my life.

I notice in the fear of accidently worshiping Mary, Protestants have knocked her out of  list of heroes. That’s why we seldom hear Mary as a bible hero. I don’t worship her but I honor her just as I would other bible heroes.  Yes, we ought to choose to honor than to be hung up about being right. Sometimes in the course of being right, we lost a friend, an influence and most of the time our humility.