Time to UPGRADE our heroes!

The people followed on facebook, read about in the media, watched in movies, performing on stage or see running for office are seen as 'important' and worth our attention. Often times however, they are not even worth a casual glance. Their lives don't live up to close scrutiny of someone to admire let alone read about. Frankly, it's time to UPGRADE our heroes! 

When I think of heroes... REAL heroes, I think of people who have sacrificed themselves for others and made a real difference in their world more than just in their popularity or bank accounts. In the first photo is my friend Dr. Alfred Cheng seated between his wife and daughter. He's saved hundreds of lives as a cardiologist and after stopping their hearts to fix valves or bypass clogged arteries, he applied paddles and an electric jolt to restart their hearts and give them a new lease on life. But that is his job. He's my hero because he took his passion of running and solicited donations from colleagues, patients and friends raising $70,000+ for Eden Home in Mongolia. His donation built a sports facility for the children, installed indoor plumbing (appreciated in the 35 below zero temperatures of the 8 month winter) and improved their lives and lifestyle. Hmmm... didn't see him on 'E' or in 'Forbes'... did you? Question: Who are your Dr. Cheng's? Are you a 'Dr. Cheng' to someone or some organisation that needs you, your help or your finances?

Next, I think of mom and dad (my bride's parents). Dad was given 3 months to live in 2014 as he has stage 4 liver cancer. Thank the Good Lord, it has been 19 months since then and he's still with us. The man WILL NOT SIT STILL!  He keeps working on his vehicles, cleaning out his storage units and garage and helping out with the orphanage. We tell him to take it easy but he won't do it. He still has too much to do. I cannot tell you how much I admire him. Truly. Question: Do you see life as an opportunity to serve and that every day is a gift to be used, enjoyed, lived to the fullest? If you do... you are a hero of mine too. 

Some heroes are not just inspirational, they are humbling. In this next picture you see 4 youngsters.

Our son Tony is on the left, then Enkmund one of the boys from Eden Home, our daughter Anna and then Enkmund's brother, Enkbod. These 4 amazing children are my heroes and teachers.

I lost my temper earlier this year after a few sleep deprived nights and a frustrating set of circumstances. Our son Tony came to me and said, "Dad, can I pray with you to ask God to help you with this?" My temper, self imposed, left instantly and I was humbled at his faith... at a time when mine was lacking. He's a better man than I am. Question: Who helps you grow your faith or keep you accountable to standards you set for yourself?

At Eden, I watched Enkmund (the smallest one) attempt to hit a badminton 'birdie' with a racket over and over, never successful for over 20 minutes. He never lost his cool. He just laughed it off. 21 minutes of non-stop attempts, he finally hit it... one time. Then back to missing it. None of us knew at the time he is blind in one eye making it nearly impossible to perceive depth to perform a simple task like hitting a shuttlecock. His tenacity is inspirational. Question: What do you need to work on until you get it right? A better diet? Negative thinking? Your career? Forgiveness of a spouse? Fitness? Career advancement? Education? Lesson from Enkmund: Don't quit trying... just stop quitting. 

Our daughter Anna is a hero to me as well. She has friends living far off and at church but none in her daily life. She could 'fit in' but refuses to do so. At school her friends post images of each other that are 'inappropriate' or engage in language and gossip she doesn't want to be a part of. Rather than 'fitting in', she sits by herself and reads. Wow. Too many times in my life I've compromised to 'fit in'. Question: Are you living true to yourself and your values or do you sometimes catch yourself 'fitting in'?

The last boy on the right, Enkbod is my hero too. Because of abuse early in his life, he was severely cross-eyed. Children and even some adults made fun of him. Thanks to the generosity of a Singapore optometrist, Mark Ng (another hero - pictured here donating time and specs to poor people in Mongolia)

Mark gave Enkbod new and very expensive specs (glasses to my American friends). INSTANTLY, his eyes straightened out! With a new confidence and zeal, he desires to change and transform the world as a pastor and leader. He's what I call a 'come back kid'. Most of his life he was literally knocked down, laughed at and abused. But today he never says anything negative nor does he act like a victim. Rather, he conducts himself like a man on fire and growing, maturing... at age 13. Like his brother (and ALL the kids at Eden Home), he's getting straight 'A' grades in school. He couldn't even read or write just 4 years ago.  Question: Is there a 'come back kid' in you or do you hold on to resentments? Do you desire and work at doing great things or let 'things' in life rob you of your greatness?

From the bottom of my heart, we need better heroes in life like these people. We need to seek them, find them, hold on to them, learn from them and live like them. You probably are a hero yet too humble to boast. So please share your real life heroes here so we all can be inspired by them.  We cannot have too many heroes. 

(Need a place or a way to be a HERO too? Ask us about Eden Home and how you can help these children too. Help us help them.)