A Hero Among Us

My friend Gary visits the Development Office every weekday morning.

He stops at Joy’s desk, shakes her hand and chats for a few minutes. He strolls over to my desk, shakes my hand and asks me how I’m doing. We talk about what’s planned for our day, then he shakes my hand again, says good-bye and heads over to Becci’s office where he sits in her big armchair and discusses things like his Special Olympic Bowling stance.

There’s something about Gary that’s so endearing, we forget how busy we are. We put aside our work for

the time he’s at our desk. We give him our undivided attention as he looks us in the eyes and speaks earnestly about the stuff of his life and ours. Sometimes we pray together while he’s visiting, sometimes the phone rings and we end the visit, but always there’s Gary’s promise that he’ll pray for us… and we know he will.

There’s nothing obvious about Gary however, that shouts out “I’m a HERO!”  He’s a slightly built man – no broad shoulders and rippling muscles like the heroes on the news many evenings. He doesn’t have the wide, confident grin of the heroes on book covers. His smile is big, with his mouth hanging open and his jaw angled to the side. Sometimes he drools, and we gently say, “Remember to swallow Gary.” 

No, he’s not quick, he’s not strong, he's not young, he’s not agile of mind or body. He doesn’t look like your everyday hero.

But he is one.

We received this letter last week from one of Gary’s hometown neighbors:

During his recent visit home with his parents, Gary, as usual, strolled through the neighborhood wishing everyone good tidings for the day.

One morning, Gary was taking his usual stroll when he heard someone calling for help. While investigating the cry for help, Gary came across an elderly woman. She had fallen in her backyard, breaking her hip. Gary immediately came and got me, where-by an ambulance was called and she was taken to the hospital. She is now home and recovering nicely.

The neighbors always knew Gary was a fine gentleman, but now we look at him as “our neighborhood hero.”

I want to thank you for being an influence on Gary and taking good care of our “HERO.”

I asked Gary about his experience after we received the letter. He was excited about the opportunity to help someone, and he told me he stayed and prayed for his neighbor until the ambulance arrived. 

Gary redefined the word “hero” for me. I don’t think I ever pictured a person with intellectual disabilities when I heard the word in the past. Heroes were firefighters, policemen and other emergency personnel. They were our military and others who died for our country. They were men and women who sacrificed much for another’s gain. Heroes were people that took care of people with intellectual disabilities, not the other way around.

Now when I hear the word “hero,” I think about a small man running, running in spite of his pacemaker and awkward gait, running with his mouth open, breathing hard, running to get help for an injured neighbor, running… and praying.

Just as the gentleman who wrote the letter to Shepherds thanked us for being a good influence on Gary, I want to thank you.  Without your prayers, your time and your donations, Shepherds couldn’t do the work God called us to do in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. You have helped us influence Gary - and all the other “Garys” on our campus.  You have invested in his care.  Thank you for loving the residents and students of Shepherds and helping them fulfill the purpose for which God created them! 

We count you among our heroes.