A little more than thirty-six years ago, on February 20, 1962, John Glenn orbited the earth in his Mercury capsule, Friendship 7. It was an exciting time for the world. No one had ever done it before. The first manned spacecraft was launched and America has had a love affair with space exploration ever since.

No one really knew what would happen. Glenn took a great risk to go up in space. As I child, at age seven, I remember seeing images on our old black and white Zenith television of this tiny capsule sitting atop what appeared to be a tremendously disproportionate "rocket"! What a sight to behold!

When I heard that the Discovery's crew of astronauts and one legend were now in full orbit of the planet, I thought of other legends I have known. Though John Glenn will be forever etched on the minds of humans as a great aviator, astronaut and adventurer along with Columbus and Lewis and Clark and the like, still there remains in my mind the fact that their fame is only temporary, at best.

I think of the many heroes of faith that I have known who never received a ticker tape parade in Time's Square, nor had their names on front-page headlines of newspapers. I am thinking of those who have joy in midst of tragedy, yet sing praises to God; those who suffer loss, yet continue to trust in a God who gives no easy answers to their longing. I think of those who deal with daily chronic pain, yet have a smile on their face and joy in their heart. I think of mothers who have no help from their husbands, yet see that their children are dressed and ready for Bible class on Sunday. I think of people that I have known who serve in quiet ways that only God and the recipients of their kindness know about. These to me are the real heroes! And to these God has promised a "hero's welcome!" "Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'" (Matthew 25:34).