Despite all its obvious defects, Perfect Princess did get me thinking. What are the things that I use in defining my heroes? Why do I consider some people worth emulating and others not?
Sometimes I fear that my heroes and role models are based more on a fascination with greatness than anything else. When I look back over the course of history, what makes me admire the people I admire? I have long been interested in First Ladies–my favorites are Abigail Adams, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Laura Bush. Yet they couldn’t be more different, could they? I love Abigail Adams for her deep devotion to her husband, their beautiful correspondence. I love her for how she managed her family’s estate in her husband’s absence, how she begged her husband to remember the ladies, how she encouraged her nephew in his education. I love Jacqueline Kennedy for her PR, her ability to make everything look perfect. I envy her ability to make people love her, her innate sense of how to be different, to be beautiful, to be fashionable. I love her for her public life, and the privacy she clung to. I love Laura Bush for her gentleness, her deep care for what she really cares about–the children. I love her for being a good wife to President Bush, for caring for him, for their daughters, for the nation. I love her for taking delight in cloroxing bookcases, her love for reading, her personal decision to take the path of traditional womanhood. I love her for not lobbying, choosing instead to earn respect.
The great heroes of my reading life are so varied, I wonder if they can meet up. Since I first read Emily Dickensen in sixth grade, I have been infatuated with her grasp of poetry. I want to someday see with such keen sight. Walt Whitman, I adore for changing the face of poetry in the nineteenth century. I admire him for his brilliance, yet I sorrow at his lostness.
Book characters also have their role on my list of heroes. Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice has always been a favorite. She had a scathing tongue, a ready wit, and the ability to laugh at everything. I love Sara from A Little Princess because she insisted on being a “beautiful person” whatever her circumstances–something I fail miserably at. Sam in The Lord of the Rings encourages me with his faithfulness as a friend.
Bible Characters? Priscilla is a favorite. We don’t know much about her except that she and her husband Aquilla worked together tentmaking with Paul. They brought Apollo under their wing when he was teaching false doctrine. They are regarded as fellow workers with Paul.
Enter into the current world, my real world, and again, the people vary widely. Malinda Hinrichs, a woman from my church, is skilled in just about everything–she paints, she does calligraphy, she bakes, she gardens, she quilts, she travels the world on mission trips, she’s learning to play the piano by chords–despite being over 65. Cindy Slocum, our church’s women’s ministry director, is wonderful at making things beautiful–tea sandwiches, a table setting, a bathroom cabinet. She is also one of the most amazing prayer warriors I know. Paula Welter, who disciples me, is marvelous. Two years in a row, she welcomed 3-4 College students into her home. She’s down to earth, not fussy–but she is welcoming and always encourages me in my walk. Barb Calcara always has somebody visiting–missionaries for the missions conference, college students on break, friends of her daughters’ (even though the daughters aren’t there), a family from the mission that her husband brought home. She welcomes people eagerly into her home, truly seeing it as an opportunity to serve God. The LCPC ladies with their fancy outfits and time to serve drive me nuts. How I wish I could be them–classy, friendly, laughing and serving.
And then there’s my most recent hero-crush. Condoleeza Rice is amazing. She is easily the most powerful woman in our nation–but no one deserves it more than she. Excelling in everything she does, fighting for her rights from early on. Concert pianist. Expert on Soviet Union Politics. Graduated with honors. Provost of Stanford for six years. This woman is astounding. I hated when the media jumped over her boots in Germany. They were trying to reduce her to Madelyn Albright’s level. But she doesn’t even fit into that sphere. Condoleeza Rice is a capable, intelligent, amazing woman. I love her.
As you can see, I have quite a few heroes (and these are just a few–mostly just the female ones.) But is there a common thread in my chain of heroes? I don’t know. And perhaps it doesn’t matter.