In Acts 9:36-43, Peter is summoned to Joppa to tend to a much-loved disciple named Tabitha who was always doing good and helping the poor. Tabitha had suddenly died and the church mourned for this wonderful servant. Peter was asked to come to Joppa to see what he could do. Peter was taken to the house where Tabitha was being prepared for burial. He sent everyone out of the room and commanded Tabitha to rise. Tabitha rose and Peter presented her to the others.
Two themes occurred to me while studying this passage: Healers and Heroes. This took me back to my childhood growing up as a boy in Fremont, Michigan. I had heard many of the Bible stories while sitting in Sunday School year after year at the First Congregational Church of Fremont, a church in which my family was quite heavily involved. While I can’t remember each and every story, I do recall that healing was a regular occurrence; stories like that of Peter and Tabitha where someone was made to rise from the dead, stories of Jesus healing the sick and diseased and handicapped, and so forth. In every instance, I came to view those who did the healing as somewhat heroic. And today, especially given my current situation, I live in awe of the amazing things that those in the medical profession have accomplished and continue to accomplish.
However, heroic acts encompass so much more than just medicine. We read the newspaper accounts of rescues from burning buildings and car accidents, rescues from violence, rescues from drowning, and many other instances of emergency situations. In Acts 9: 36-43, Peter is a hero for bringing Tabitha back from death. Tabitha is a hero for all of the good she does for the benefit of others. On a more global scale, Jesus is a hero for reasons too numerous to tally.
So, what makes a Hero? I decided to list some of my Heroes in an effort to answer that question. Some of these people you may know (and I apologize in advance if I mention your name and you are bothered by that).
MY HEROES:
- My wife Judy for sitting with me for hours at The James and keeping me grounded (and a myriad of other things)
- My 3 kids: Adam, Nicole, and Vanessa for being willing to drop everything at a moment’s notice to come help us.
- Grant Kearns for being my model for dealing with elementary school kids.
- Jack Stritmatter for being half of the most generous people I know.
- My Dad, Duane VanDuzen, for being the other half of the most generous people I know.
- Jake Pfarr and Peter Crosthwaite, two men who grew up in this church, who met me for
- lunch at Applebee’s some 20 years ago and gave me hope that the future was intact.
- Steve and Glenna Bell for calling.
- Mary Beth and Andy Stewart for sending me silly cards.
- John Rodenhausen for clearing snow from our driveway.
- My mother, Helen VanDuzen who died of cancer 20 years ago on my 48th birthday, for showing me the true meaning of kindness.
- The Gibsons for running errands to help.
- Kevin and Diane Crosthwaite for great food.
And the list goes on….
Who are your heroes?
