Stairclimbs and firefighers...To many we are heroes

I've been blessed with a wonderful career of 31 years in the Fire Department. To many we are as heroes. Are we? Then recently (February 8th, 2012) I had the great privilege to compete in the Empire State Building 'Run Up'. This is the grand daddy of stairclimbs (more than 200 worldwide this year), in one of the most prestigious buildings of the 20th century. What an event, my 11th, and I'm sure not my last. In competing in these kinds of events...again to many we are heroes. I ask, are we?

What I like about both of these...one my occupation and one my recreation...is the preparation that is required in order to become and remain proficient. In my job we are required to maintain skills in so many diverse areas. I find the push to learn more and maintain that proficiency to be waning. Maybe that's to be expected having begun in this field in 1977. But do I have the option to wane while I still remain? Preparation is likewise true with 'stairclimbing'. Though one could, and many do not prepare and go solely for the camaraderie and the 'thrill' of the climb. The camaraderie, with similar tenants to the FD, is amazing. And though many would call it plain fools exhaustion, the 'thrill' is definitely there as well. Yet to compete is to take it one more step (no pun intended) and put forth the necessary preparation to be ready for 'this' event. The added benefit for me is the synergistic effect of being part of both. And the greatest of those benefits is keeping up with those guys some 20 to 30 years my junior.

Rick & Javier (one of the elites)

Yet my question was...are we heroes? Who would not want to be? Sometimes we have been called it so often that we begin to see and feel the pride of being one. I've returned often in the past few months to this passage in the book of Romans. Paul writes in Romans 15 that "we who are strong ought to bear the weakness of those without strength and not just please ourselves." Then Paul gives to us the example of Christ, that though He who was strong, He did not please Himself, but rather He bore our weakness. What heroes these two men are. And they call us to be likewise...a hero...one with strength who carries the weight for those without strength.

He loves the ESB too...

Such is this preparation for...and such is what a hero is made of. Something that is not solely for stairclimbers and firefighters, rather it is for all of us who've been blessed with 'strength'. We all have a friend, family member, neighbor, a brief encounter with someone who is in the midst of 'weakness'. Be prepared, to be their strength! And, to be their hero!