My Hero

I overheard a bit of a conversation earlier this week.  One person said to the other about someone they were talking about, “he’s my hero.”  Immediately I pictured someone in my mind who is my hero.  When I think of this person, a gladness always washes over me.

It was an incident that took place some years ago.  I was traveling in a somewhat volatile country.  Caution was needed at all times.  Plans were made for me to fly to another part of the country when someone said to me that they felt uneasy about this flight.  I felt fine about it, but it was agreed that we would pray and ask God to show us, beyond doubt, something that would make me know I was not to take this flight.

The next morning, the day I was to fly, I phoned my parents to say hello.  My father immediately tells me to listen carefully.  Then he told me that a friend of ours had just phoned, in tears, sharing that she had a terrible dream in the night.  “Tell Vickie to please be careful,” she said crying.  “Thanks Dad,” I responded.  “I will take care.”  I cancelled my flight.

It was several weeks later, when someone from the town where I had intended to fly, came to see me.  He took my hands as he said, “We are so thankful you didn’t make that flight.”  He then explained that a prison outbreak had taken place.  Many of the prisoners pledged to make an international statement through a kidnapping.  They would look for a foreign woman to take.  I would have flown right to them.

It was not my time to go so our Father in Heaven arranged to send a message to me to keep me off that flight.  He sent the message through a dream to someone He knew would listen and take action.  That person is a young woman named Amanda.  She is my hero.  When I feel discouraged or get tired of “waiting” for something to take place, I think of my hero.  I remind myself of her faithfulness to God, her unwavering obedience — without question — to His direction.  When I think of my hero, I am able to press on myself, to take action, to wait when it’s hard to do so.

When I next saw Amanda I asked her about the dream.  She told me that she saw me in the backseat of a car.  We were driving through a wooded area when men wearing masks charged out, stopping the car.  She said they took me out of the backseat and dragged me into the woods.  She woke up crying and knew she had to call my parents to tell them.

Was the above a coincidence?  No, it was a specific answer to my specific prayer.  Amanda listened and took action.  As Peter explained in the New Testament book of Acts, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.  In those days I will pour out my Spirit on men and women alike.”  Acts 2:17-18

There is one other thing I will tell you about my hero.  She is Down Syndrome.  Can everyone be used my God?  Yes, but it takes a willing, obedient, and pure heart.  Amanda is one who, as the old hymn says, “trusts and obeys for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”