Stone Soup for the World Life-Changing Stories of Kindness and Everyday Heroes

I ONE PERSON'S VOICE The heroes of all time have gone before us. We have only to follow the thread of the hero path. Where we had thought to travel outward, we will come to the center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone, we will be with all the world. Joseph Campbell Have you ever wondered if just one person can really make a difference? Sometimes the problems around us can seem overwhelming. But think about it: one person first walked on the moon and one person discovered electricity. There are thousands of ways each of us can make a difference. A helping hand extended to a neighbor or a stranger creates a more caring world. Reading to children enriches their present and opens up their future. A gift to a church or a charity helps those helping others. One kind word or a thoughtful deed can change someone's day--or make history. It's amazing what one person can do! There's a lot that needs changing in this world. We've been looking for heroes. On September 11, we found them: the "ordinary" people who risked their lives to help others, especially the firefighters, police, and EMT workers. As people were running for their lives away from the fireball, the firefighters ran toward it, never thinking that the World Trade Center buildings would collapse. Their code for the day was "Before we save ourselves, we save others." Selflessly risking their lives, they kept their promise to "preserve life and property"--and saved over 25,000 people. Actually, they'd been doing this all along. Everyday heroes are less often celebrated, but they're still heroes. Maybe more so. Oakland fire captain Ray Gatachalian, who went to New York City to help in the aftermath of the attack, was moved to tears when he heard Bette Midler sing "Did you ever know that you're my hero?" at the Yankee Stadium memorial service for the victims' families. "They showed us what it means to be a hero," Ray says. "They exemplify the best in all of us." The stories in this chapter show how ordinary people can become heroes with acts of human kindness and courageous acts of service. "A hero is someone who responds to a 'call to service' and gives his life to something bigger than himself," said Joseph Campbell, after helping George Lucas with Star Wars. In the movie, young Luke Skywalker responds to a call, goes on a quest, battles demons, both inside himself and out, and returns to his people victorious, with a gift. So he becomes a hero. In training one day, Obi-Wan Kenobi coaches Luke, "Turn off your computer, turn off your machine and do it yourself; follow your heart, trust your feelings." When Luke does this, he succeeds, and the audience breaks out in applause. Like Luke Skywalker, when the heroes in this chapter responded to a "call," their lives changed as they changed the world. People from all walks of life--firefighters and ministers; nurses and doctors; artists and musicians; mothers, fathers, students, and seniors; presidents of countries and companies--all set out on journeys along paths of self-discovery. They overcame obstacles and discovered the resources to fulfill their destinies. Good Samaritans and great humanitarians, dedicated volunteers and corporate champions followed their hearts and trusted their instincts to help others. Along the way, they have found the kind of joy and fulfillment others only dream of--and an exciting, lifelong adventure. "The ultimate aim of the quest must be the wisdom and the power to serve others," says Campbell. He describes "legendary heroes" as those who dedicate their entire lives to a new way of life, a new age, a new religion, a new world order. The legendary heroes in this chapter--Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, and Eleanor Roosevelt--have left exemplary footsteps for others to follow. [read more]