Hero. What was the first thing that popped into your head when you saw that word? Did you imagine some great comic book-esque super hero, maybe Batman (who we all know is the best so let's not pretend otherwise). How about Superman or The Incredible Hulk, did these well known heroes pop into your mind? Perhaps a cop, fireman, or solider made your list? All of them are quite deserving of that title after all wouldn't you agree? What about a child battling cancer with bravery or a missionary willing to endure the harshest things to spread the word of God and save a few lost souls, both of them embody the title after all. Well then how about a twenty-nine year old singer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who is a phenomenal example of human strength and compassion. Why you may ask is this seemingly ordinary man deserving of such a completely extraordinary title and if you asked him would he concur with such praise. The answer to the first question is below and I hope that I do a good job explaining it. The answer to the second is no, this man would never consider himself a hero...but really in the end true heroes never do.
The word hero is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary in the following ways: a)a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities & b)one that shows great courage. With this definition in mind let me introduce you to the man who lives up to this in my heart.
I was first introduced to a man by the name of Daniel Jay Gokey during the audition round of American Idol Season 8. It was Kansas City and I was intently watching, laughing at the bad people, being interested by the good ones, when onto the screen came a somewhat geeky, but adorable, man wearing glasses. I think I knew then that I was a goner, but it took me a few more seconds to grasp just how far gone I truly was. Right after he came onto the screen, as they often do during this round of American Idol, his story began to unfold. It was explained, by a broken down Danny Gokey, that his wife, Sophia, had recently, very recently in fact, passed away. The way he spoke about her with such love and sadness, but determination and perseverance, I was begging for him to stay though I had never even heard his voice. It's kind of funny, or obsessive (I guess you can be the judge), but I remember with absolute clarity that moment. I remember him walking into the judging room, while I held my breathe and silently prayed (literally) while sitting on that little green couch off to the left side of the TV. I must have muttered "Please God, just let him be able to sing." a hundred times in those few seconds it took, my heart racing in anticipation. I remember freaking out when he said the words, "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" not sure someone, anyone, should tackle a song like that. But then relief swept over me as he began to sing. This guy was good, actually this guy was GREAT! And I knew from that moment on, I was on board the Gokey Train. I didn't know where he was going with his music, or his career, but I knew wherever it was he ended up I was going to follow.
I guess somewhere between that first audition and when his album was recently released is when he became my hero. It is a little bit difficult to explain just why I think he is a hero because it isn't necessarily in the traditional sense of the word everyone is used to. He is my hero because of his courage & strength in the face of incredible pain and adversity. He is my hero because at a time where he could have given up and given into the 'haters' he decided to ignore their remarks and remain undeniably himself. He is my hero because he stood up there and proclaimed who he was and what he believed in and made no apologizes for that fact. He is my hero for starting a foundation to honor the legacy of someone that he loved too much to not let her dream of touching the lives of children go unfulfilled (the foundation is called Sophia's Heart Foundation and it can be found at www.sophiasheart.org). He is my hero for creating triumph from tragedy, love from despair, and a sense of hope in a hopeless situation.
I guess in a way it boils down to this. Danny Gokey inspires me. He makes me believe in the impossible dream, in the unreachable goal. He helps me understand that in life you have to make the most of the hand you are dealt. Whenever I'm having a bad day or I'm thinking, "Why did you let this happen to me God?" I think about what he went through and how he kept his faith and became stronger because of it and I think "I can do this." There are things in life that are going to happen and you aren't going to understand why, not at the time, maybe not ever, but having faith to continue with the knowledge that someone is looking out for you can bring a ray of sunshine to even the darkest of days. Or as Danny might say, simply live with the knowledge that your best days are ahead of you.
I would be remiss if I went through this whole description of how he is my hero without mentioning one pivotal thing he did for me in my life. He helped bring me closer to God and for that alone I will always be grateful. Now I had never strayed away from God per say. I grew up in a Presbyterian Church, went to church every Sunday & Tuesday growing up and prayed before bed every night. But around the age of 13 when I stopped going to youth at my church I drifted away from the close bond I had once had. Danny changed that. When I saw his faith on Idol it stirred something inside of me. Something called out to me and told me I needed to hit the restart button and begin again. My best friend, Adrianne, went to the Baptist Church down the road from my house every Wednesday for youth. One day in January I began accompanying her and have been going every week since. It's been over a year and I still go every Wednesday. I am so proud of this and feel closer to God and Jesus than ever before. I have Danny to thank for that.
I wish I was a more eloquent writer and I could somehow impress upon you with mere words the magnitude of my convictions about this man. He is someone who has the ability to shape peoples lives and chooses to be a positive influence. He chooses to be the good he wishes to see in the world, as that saying goes. I think I'm going to be really cheesy right now and go with the lyrics to a Bette Midler song, "My Wings"
Did you know that you're my hero,
And everything I'd like to be?
So can it be that an truck driver, turned country music singer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is defined as a hero? Why not? Merriam-Webster has its defniition of hero and I have mine. For me, for the reasons listed above and so many more, Danny Gokey embodies the qualities that true heroes have. If you think about it, Spiderman & Superman were normal guys by day right? ;)
*thanks for reading this guys, let me know what you think!*
I LOVE it Carmen!<3
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