Hero

I was a hero this week!

Well, at least that is what she said.

It poured rain for about 15 minutes and a section of our street was flooded with water moving up people’s driveways near their garage doors. I arrived at home at the same time the mother of my neighbor was arriving for a visit. She parked in the parking spot across the street and several doors down from her daughter’s townhouse because the flooding was deepest in front of her daughter’s home and up to her garage door.

Making casual conversation, I made some genius comment like, “Wow, it looks like we’re flooded.”

The woman said, “My daughter already called the city about it.”

“I think I know what’s wrong. I think I can fix it,” I said.

“You’ll be her hero,” she replied.

I went inside, put on some shorts and some sandals, grabbed a rake and waded into the water toward the street. I arrived at my destination and began moving the leaves away from the drain with my rake. Instantaneously the water rushed into the drain from both sides. Within minutes the street was free of water and all the driveways were clear as well. And, apparently, I was a hero!. Had I known it was so easy, I would have done this earlier in my life!

God’s heroes are a strange lot.

There is Rahab, the prostitute, who struck a deal with Israelite spies and hid them after they promised to spare her family when the Israelites took over Jericho.

There is the spoiled brat of a little brother, Joseph, who was sold into slavery, imprisoned on trumped up sexual assault charges, and eventually served as the Head of State in Egypt. He saved his brothers and the future nation of Israel from starvation by providing food and protection for them.

The prophetess and judge, Deborah, led Israel to triumph over enemies that threatened their extinction.

In the New Testament, the book of Acts is filled with heroes who stood valiantly for their faith in the midst of persecution and some lost their lives.

These are heroes. People who are so convinced of God’s love and purpose for life that they are willing to give up anything for God’s cause.

I am often too self-centered to give up my time, or an event I want to be a part of, or an opportunity that I have longed for, or an evening home, to represent God somewhere or with someone. Inconvenience and sacrifice are the paths to being a hero for God. Paths I don’t always want to travel.

If only being a hero for God was as easy as raking leaves away from a drain!

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