What Do You Do When Your Hero Dies?
When Alexi Navalny died in a Russian penal colony, Russia’s greatest hope for regaining its once-budding democracy died with him. He could have been one of the world’s great leaders, and he was sometimes paralleled to Nelson Mandela in South Africa. But instead, Putin got rid of the greatest threat to his mafia-style dictatorship by letting Navalny gradually die in prison.
Though a long-time anti-corruption activist and democratic leader in Russia, early in his imprisonment, Navalny became a follower of Christ. And he quoted Jesus’ words from the Gospel of Matthew in his courtroom rebukes of Putin. This man uncovered Putin’s endless corruption and abuse. And his greatest characteristic was that he had no fear—which is why Putin feared him.
Thousands risked arrest to attend his funeral and protest the regime. He was a hero to millions. And celebrities are nothing compared to people like this.
When a hero dies, we grieve. Something is lost in the world. Something is lost in our own lives. And along with our hero, something also dies within us.
Who are your heroes?
Think about that and name at least one or two.
Really, who are your heroes?
After the grief of a hero’s death, what do we do?
I suggest that we do something to keep our hero’s inspiration alive.
And can we apply Romans 8:28, that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose?”
What good thing will God do among those whom he loves and has called according to his purpose?
The answer to that lies in part within each of us.
Consider these practical possibilities:
• Deeply reflect on my own life. How much am I aligned with what I admire in my hero?
• Look beyond all the yada-yada of how society expects me to live for my own pleasure and comfort. It all leads to mediocrity—and an end of life with a big “So what?”
• Step out of my comfort zone of mediocrity—or start planning and preparing to do so.
• Live that person’s legacy in the way I was created to do in my own life.
• How will I do that?
• What will I do?
• If the answer seems crazy or scary, all the better.
Photo Credit: BBC
