What makes a hero?
Some say that you’ve got to save an airliner by jumping on a terrorist who’s about to blow up a plane.
Others think it’s the person who gives up their life so that others can live.
Yes, these people can be considered heroes. But, everyday, we have heroes among us and do not even know it.
Eric Paul was a hero. He died on Dec. 30, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. He was only 45.
He wasn’t a hero because he fought the deadly disease that killed him. Many people fight this scourge and lose.
He was a hero because of the way he lived.
Before the cancer even started it’s rampage through his body, Eric overcame some of the most fearsome obstacles anyone could face… And he overcame them through his faith in the Almighty and an optimism almost unheard of in today’s world.
Eric knew who he was on this planet and what he wanted to do. Not even cancer kept him from making his mark.
When Eric knew that he was fighting the battle of his life, he went into overdrive to set things in place… compressing a life’s work into short weeks.
I was fortunate to record an interview with Eric just three months after he went full-time into his performing career…. long before his final battle began. In it, he explained what he did to grow in a few short weeks to a full-blown profession. We talked about passion, giving more than expected, keeping focused.
Eric kept focused until the very end…. on other people.
I never once heard Eric say, “Why me, Lord?”
On Eric’s last video, from his hospital bed, {check it out on facebook www.facebook.com.ericpaul} Eric talks about helping others three days before his death.
No pity parties. No tearful regrets.
He fought a good fight. He kept the faith. He looked death in the face and didn’t waver.
Eric knew that death was just a doorway…. and he was ready to walk through.
