Heroic

Over the last couple of weeks in our country, there has been much debate over the definition of a hero.  Because we all are different with different perspectives, the definition of hero is different as well.

But, today a woman passed away that embodies the very definition of heroic and her name was Elizabeth Elliot. 

Now, you may be asking yourself, who is Elizabeth Elliot.  You won't hear about her death on the news or read about it on social media, which is unfortunate.  It is unfortunate because everyone should know this woman's story and be inspired by it. 

In 1953, she married Jim Elliot in Ecuador.  They were living there as missionaries to the Quechua Indians.  These Indians were savage people who did not have much contact with the outside world.  They were a primitive people who wanted to be left alone and fiercely protected themselves from intruders.  In Jim Elliot and other missionaries attempted to reach out to these Indians with the love of Christ, in hopes to lead them to Christ.  But, in 1956 tragedy struck.  Jim Elliot and the other missionaries who were with him were killed by the Indians they were trying to reach.  Now, imagine living in a strange land and your loved one had just been horribly killed by the very people you were showing love and kindness to.  What would you do? 

Here is what Elizabeth Elliot did: she learned the language of the Quechua and lived among them for two years!  Most of us would pack up and leave.  We would never think to live with the people who had killed our loved ones.  But, Elizabeth Elliot was not most of us.  She lived for a King who showed all of us what love was and how to love. 

Not only did Elizabeth Elliot continue the work in Ecuador, but she also went on to right more than 20 books and was a highly demanded speaker.  She also experienced the death of another husband, but still kept doing what her King called her to do. 

Elizabeth knew and understood that she was radically loved by Jesus her King.  She devoted her life to sharing that same radical love to anyone who would listen.  Some may call her foolish for what she did, but I call her heroic.  To be heroic is to face impossible odds.  To be heroic is to take actions that may not be popular not make stands that are already acceptable.  This was a woman who radically loved because she was radically loved.  May we all be challenged by this woman to radically love even when it may not be popular.  May we all be challenged by a life that did the seemingly foolish, but in reality was quite heroic.  Thank you Elizabeth for showing us what being heroic was all about.