I have no interest in judging others for 3 reasons:
1. Any time I waste on judging others could have been way better spent on improving me.
2. I don't want God to think I was trying to take over his job of deciding who are the villains and who
are the heroes. I think we all are heroes and villains at some time in our life.
3. I am not self-righteous enough to believe that I might not have at some point in my life said,
"Yeah, OK I'll try it I guess." From that point on the two worst things might happen. I win and I don't
get caught. Then the snowball just rolls.
I think Lance might have just been an "Average Joe." Or even worse because of that an "Anonymous Joe." For someone as competitive and driven as him that might be the worst insult that he could be given. And that may be why he decided that he needed to go outside the rules to keep up with and surpass the other "Anonymous Joes."
But I believe one of the greatest organizations I have seen built has been built by "Anonymous Joes." I believe that LiveStrong was built by "Anonymous Joes." "Anonymous Joes" that have an incredible passion for life and compassion for others. Doctors, web designers, receptionists, nurses, social workers, business people, and financial backers who all care. They care not that they get famous. They care that they are giving their all to heal people.
This blog is in honor of Mac Crutchfield who died when he was twelve years old. Twelve year-olds have heroes. Twelve year-olds need heroes. Mac would have been so disappointed because he was what a twelve year-old should be. A kid with an idealistic view of the world. More importantly a kid who lived an idealistic life. A kid who consistently walked what he talked. When he wasn't swimming his best he knew the answer was to work harder.
We don't need to teach twelve year-olds they don't need heroes. We need to teach twelve year-olds that they are surrounded by heroes. Heroes like teachers, lunch room ladies, custodians, Sunday School teachers, scout leaders, and Wal-Mart greeters. It is people who get up and do the everyday things that make the world a better place.
Great athletes are famous because they make their bodies perform in ways we like to watch. Hall of Fame basketball player (and currently the funniest man on television) Charles Barkley summed it up best when he said, "I ain't no role model." Famous people are not necessarily great people. We need to teach our kids that the crossing guard that pats your child on the head and puts a little hip swivel dance in her traffic direction is a great role model. The lunch room lady who smiles and says, "Hey baby, how ya' doin' today?" to your kid every single day is someone to be looked up to.
Most of all we need to look out ourselves and ask how, as parents and mentors, we can be a better hero to kids around us. Will a kid find a hero in a grumpy old, bitter, "GROAN-up" parent, teacher, or coach? Nope. So quit complaining about everything and everyone around you and put on your tights and cape and engage in the world with enthusiasm and vigor and become the hero you want the kids around you to have!
