The world is terrifying. We live in an age of bombs, guns, and the super-flu. Even our morning cup of coffee is equally capable of saving us and killing us.
Where can we turn? Humanity has relied on heroes for as long as we could tell stories about them. Where are our champions now, though?
As it turns out, there is one living in my house. My wife, you see, is a modern-day hero. Mediocrity is as foreign to her as Mars. In an age of self-absorption and paralyzing fear, her heart remains set on what she can do for others. She expects plenty from those around her, but she first lives up to her own expectations. She is not the only one, but she is an incomparable example for the rest of us.
To begin with, Mrs. Wilhelm is a well-trained dancer. She is also, by nature, a teacher. She passes on her trade, and she changes lives in the process.
The world does not always realize it, but it needs art. Not just serious art. It needs joy, laughter, and silliness, too. It needs light that cuts through the cloudy days and says, “Hey, it’s going to be fine.” It also needs people who can both carry that torch and pass it on.
She has trained since she was a child. By now, the craft itself appears more natural to her than walking. She can light up a room, a stage, or a parade. I am biased, but I also watch the eyes of the audience turn towards her regularly.
This is not a gift she hordes, though. While many sit around hoping for a brighter future, she actively nurtures that future. Teaching of any sort is an act of generosity, patience, and poise (in fact, if there is a teacher near you right now, just go ahead and say thank you). Children are free spirits. This is beautiful, but it can be trying when your aim is to shape these lumps of unbridled energy into dreamers with a sense of purpose. Mrs. Wilhelm sets them on course to their personal victories, and they leave her class as better dancers and better people.
But what about when the work day’s done? Actually, this is when she comes even more alive. I do not know if it comes easy to her. What I can say is that she makes AND keeps friends better than most people I know. She utilizes every tool at her disposal and keeps tabs on everyone who has touched her life.
In person, she is a treasure. She sees the spark that flashes under people’s murky exteriors and draws out what is good in them. Although she works far more than a full-time job, she makes time to meet up. She shows up.
At a distance, she continues to go out of her way to stay in touch. Skype, e-mail, and social media are tools in her arsenal. When many of us resort to scrolling through newsfeeds, she actively pursues friendships. No matter where they are in the world, she cares.
With all this outpouring of energy, though, it would seem she must run dry sometime. Public charity often masks private strife. People grow complacent. They expect that family members who have always been there always will be. Yet again, though, my hero shines out.
When her mother was lonesome last Mother’s Day, my lady rearranged her life to fly halfway across the country. When I proposed to do the same for my own mom’s birthday (in the midst of heavy financial talks), she did not hesitate to then book my flight. It was she who took my ambition to write my first novel and said, “Great, let’s get the word out,” then proceeded to come up with catchy ideas, party plans, and outlets for sharing my story with the world. Constantly, she comes through.
The greatest thing about having a hero in your life is that it reminds you of what anyone is capable of. She does not accomplish what she does because of some pseudo-scientific Hollywood plot device. She is as human as anyone. She succeeds because, in every moment, she chooses to aim for the right path. She lives her faith, raises the bar for the rest of us, and reminds the world that love is a verb.
The world needs heroes. It’s good to have one by my side.
