I have heroes, lots of them. But these days my heroes tend to be in the maturity of their years. At age 59 I find the following people to be both interesting and inspiring examples:September 21, 2007
I have heroes, lots of them. But these days my heroes tend to be in the maturity of their years. At age 59 I find the following people to be both interesting and inspiring examples:
A guy named Mike Flynt played linebacker for Sul Ross University this past weekend. In 1970 he missed his senior year of eligibility and thought that his football career was finished. At a recent reunion some of his former teammates, noting what good shape he was in, suggested that he return and play his final year. At age 59 he earned his place on the team during grueling two-a-day workouts with kids one third his age.
My friend Jack Brainard is one of the greatest cow horse trainers America has ever seen. In his mid-eighties, he still gets on a horse and rides nearly every day. He also conducts clinics around the country. He is one of the most curious people I’ve ever known, and his knowledge is encyclopedic. When some of the best young trainers in the country run into a problem they can’t handle, they often call Jack. I like to say that I learned more about training a horse during my first hour with Jack than all the previous years combined. He is one of my heroes.
Betty Jokinen is the mother of Jan Davis. At the risk of indelicately revealing her age I will simply say that she is a contemporary of Jack Brainard. She goes ballroom dancing every weekend and has pretty much worn out a football team’s worth of dance partners. Her biggest challenge these days is finding someone who can keep up with her. The personnel at her assisted living center complain about having to “stay up” for her to return from the dances (she evidently consistently breaks her midnight curfew). She also has a brand new job and, to enhance her effectiveness, has decided to learn how to use the computer. She is one of my heroes.
Obviously, we don’t all have the gifts of good health and physical vitality as those above. But I’ve always taught my children that what’s in your mind is more important than your physical abilities. What I appreciate about these heroes is how they have made the commitment to play the fourth quarter of life with as much determination and sheer vitality as the first quarter of life.
Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” These and others prove that what He said applies to the whole span of one’s life, beginning to end.
