Heroes

 
The average height of a first grade boy is 4 feet tall. At most levels of competition the height of a basketball hoop is 10 feet tall. And the length from the free throw line to the basket is 13 feet.

On a Friday before Super Bowl Sunday, first grader Blake Harper had a chance to give his entire school the day off after the Super Bowl if he hit a free throw.  Both a seventh and eighth grader missed their opportunity to be a hero when they both missed a 3-point shot. So, up came the first grader, a chance to be a hero. Nothing but net for the kid!

All first-grader Blake Harper had to do was shoot a free throw to be a hero at his school and be mobbed by hundreds of classmates. An adventure he will most likely remember for the rest of his life. There are many heroes in life to kids, but none so much as the pro athlete.

There are many risks to kids having athletes as heroes, as many athletes have a tendency to fall from grace and disappoint not only children, but adults as well. So, should we say, "Don't trust athletes" ? No, but there are far better choices to choose from, if your looking for a hero. It's only unfortunate that it is the athlete who is in the prime spotlight to become a hero to kids.

In recent weeks Lance Armstrong failed and disappointed millions of fans as an athlete and a hero. All of the accolades of winning 7
Tour de France titles are now diminished to dust, as he finally admitted to investigative authorities of his doping addiction that enhanced his winning those titles. Lance was approached by one child who was his fan, all Lance could tell the kid was,

"Find another hero, kid. Because I am not one."

Such encouraging words to a kid, huh?

Unfortunately those that risk their life everyday for mankind, such as: policemen, firemen, and soldiers, only become heroes to kids when they are closely connected to a specific incident or if they are family members. Again, it all comes down to the almighty spotlight.

In Mercy Me's song You Are I Am, we are reminded of another hero, the One true hero who will never disappoint, and can still move mountains on our behalf:

You're the one who conquers giants


You're the one who calls out kings

You shut the mouths of lions

You tell the dead to breathe

You're the one who walks through fire

You take the orphan's hand

You are the one Messiah

You are I am

You are I am

God can and will always be in the spotlight in people's lives, for good not evil. And this hero is one you can always count on.