Everyday hero

Yesterday afternoon I watched the television as a plane slowly sank into the Hudson River. I was captivated by the images of scores of people standing on the wings, appearing as though they were walking on water. It was like watching a movie, except it was real. And the heroes in this story weren't actors; they were real people.
One of the main heroes in this real-life drama was Chesley B. Sullenburger III. Who is that you ask? According to an AP article, "the 57-year-old, of Danville, Calif., is a former fighter pilot who runs a safety consulting firm in addition to flying commercial aircraft."
They also mentioned in the news article that, "Sullenberger, who has flown for US Airways since 1980, flew F-4 fighter jets with the Air Force in the 1970s. He then served on a board that investigated aircraft accidents and participated later in several National Transportation Safety Board investigations."
Here is a man who was in the right place at the right time. We can debate whether or not God placed this man in the pilot's seat of this plane. But what if God knew this was going to happen and gave this man the abilities he used in this scenario?
I do not believe that God has the days of our life pre-planned for us, but I believe that God has foreknowledge of what will happen in our lives. And I believe that God has given each of us specific talents and abilities for a reason.
Were Sullenberger's passions and talents provided by God for this very moment? We will never know. But I am convinced that his training and background made him one of the best pilots to navigate this potential disaster. Had either wing of the plane gone into the water on landing, the plane likely would have flipped and killed many on board. The abilities of this pilot probably saved dozens of lives.
Which makes we wonder...
How many of us have been given specific abilities and gifts and fail to use them at the right time or right place? The apostle Paul wrote, "But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it." (1 Corinthians 12:18)
You may never be the pilot of a plane that needs to make an emergency landing, but we all have opportunities to save people. God has created each of us uniquely to bring forth the Kingdom of God.
In a culture where we are encouraged to use our talents and abilities to bring honor to ourselves, what if we questioned and altered our motives? What if we stopped trying to make ourselves look good and challenged ourselves to be selfless heroes, living out the mission we were created to fulfill?
You are special. You are different than anyone else. You, and only you, have the set of passions and gifts that God created within you. You have been made with a purpose.
Instead of trying to look like everyone else or fit into an image that the world has created, look for ways to be the person God meant for you to be. Regardless of who you are, you can be a hero. You can save a life. You may not save anyone from a plane sinking in the Hudson River, but you can save someone who is drowning in the darkness of the moment. All it takes is looking at ourselves as instruments of God, parts of a body that has been created to be the hands and feet of God in this world.

shine!
Jason