Selfless
As I watched the 9-11 memorial services on television Sunday morning and listened to the reading of the names of those who lost their lives I couldn’t help but think about the selfless acts of so many heroes who risked their life to save another.
Many of the 2,983 names being read were people who served as firefighters, policemen / policewomen, first responders and ordinary people who became extraordinary heroes.
What is it that would move these people to give up their future, their dreams and their life so that others could live?
There are those who say that humans are inherently selfish and evolutionarily programmed to make decisions that serve their own interest and ensure their own survival.
Yet, evolution doesn’t and can’t explain why someone would run into a burning building to save lives. After all, an act such as this violates the law of self survival.
Sure, for many firefighters, police and armed forces there is a sense of duty and training that leads them to take action, however, I believe there is a greater force at work.
I believe there is a spirit of selfless love that moves inside each one of us and it is this selfless love that inspires ordinary people to do extraordinary things for others.
This spirit not only inspires heroes to run into burning buildings and serve their country but to also teach children, mentor employees, attend to sick patients, give time and resources to charity, and give selflessly to their team at work.
I don’t know about you but hearing the stories of the men and women who displayed selfless love on 9-11 makes me want to be a better man and to give more selflessly of myself to others.
I realize that many of us may never physically save someone’s life but we can learn from the heroes of 9-11 and allow the spirit of selfless love to inspire us to do great things in the lives of others.
-Jon |
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