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KIDS OF CHARACTER 4/20/2009
Opportunity All of us benefit from meeting heroes of character…men or women who inspire us to dig within our own psyche to find hidden treasure. Ed was a hero of character in my life. He fully understood the meaning behind the words of the industrialist, Henry Kaiser, "Problems are only opportunities in work clothes." Ed had his problems, but they never defined him. He lost one leg in WW II; fought through a long recovery to have a great career in teaching. After retirement he contracted diabetes which ultimately claimed his other leg and caused him to lose his sight in one eye. I first met Ed in the early 70's. Confined to a wheel chair, he attended the same church I did. Every Sunday morning I would find Ed parked in his wheel chair at the sanctuary's front door, giving everybody a big smile and handshake. Often, as the service began, Ed would quietly slip away to visit the teens or teach Sunday School. It wasn't long before I discovered that Ed was an artist. He painted with oils. He loved to capture nature scenes. Periodically, I visited Ed's home to see his work. What always amazed me about Ed was his relationship with his wheelchair. I was dead wrong about Ed being confined. Amazingly, I discovered that his wheelchair was his main transportation…everywhere. He'd travel great distances…one to six miles going wherever he needed and wanted to go…to the grocery store, to the Senior Center and even to church. I was with Ed just a couple of hours before he passed-on due to complications from his diabetes. During that visit I was overwhelmed to see that same gracious smile. Truly, Ed stood tall among men. Albert Einstein once wrote, "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." Ed lived those words. Ed was a character mentor to me. He knew his circumstances did not define him. He used difficulty to find opportunity to be a blessing to others. It never really occurred to Ed that he was physically fragile. He moved with iron-will, inner strength that distinguishes him as a hero of character.
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