Special and Significant

What is it about certain people that make them special to us? Really, it's a strange thing to consider...why is it that certain people stir up certain feelings in me, why do I miss those few so desperately, what is it that causes me to think of someone when I hear a certain song? I know why people are special in the general sense, that's easy. God. That one name inspires greatness inside all things because all things are of His creation. For that simple reason, every human being on this Earth is special. But why is it that some people are special specifically to me? Well, I actually have an answer for that too...

Tonight, Mom and I drove to Birmingham to attend Jefferson County's Final Junior Miss Program Show. It's now 12:30 AM, I'm at home, and the details of the evening's events have faded, save for two. During the Self-Expression portion of the scholarship competition, each participant must, within 20 seconds, answer a previously posed question of the program's choice. Tonight in Jefferson County, that question was posed in a way much like this:

Our theme this evening is entitled, "Everyone's A Hero." Please describe what you define as a hero and how this definition applies to your life through your own personal experience.

One answer in particular stood out to me; a contestant described her recent mission trip to Mexico. She told of how she found that although her purpose was to serve as a role model for the children there, the children turned the tables on her, becoming her heroes by inspiring her with their immense gratitude for her gifts and presence.

It occured to me then as it had many times before that we consider some members of our lives "special" becuase they have, in a sense, become our heroes. I thought how I might answer that Junior Miss Self-Expression question and came up with this: I define a hero as a person who has touched me, molded my life, and taken their time to help me grow. Therefore, if I was to attempt to choose an experience to share with you, I would not be able to. My entire life would have to serve as my testament to heroism becuase my entire life has been filled with amazing people who have shaped me into the person I am today.

People are special becuase they touch us, they talk to us, they aspire to be great, encourage us to do the same, and in their aspirations inspire us.

The other noteworthy moment of tonight's performance occurred when the Mistress of Ceremonies performed Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." No, Titanic was not my first thought. Actually, some one incredibly unexpected came to mind. As I sat in the theatre, listening to this gorgeous woman sing this extremely powerful song, I began to watch memories of this surprising person play in my head. I found it so unusual that this person, this all but forgotten young man of my past, came to mind becuase not only had I not seen or spoken to him in quite some time, the last time we did actually converse, we fought. Yet there he was, smiling down at me in my memory...and then it hit me. Of course I would think of him. Despite our petty argument, he was still special to me, a hero of sorts, for he had touched my life. And no matter what, no matter if tomorrow comes and I never see or speak to him again, or if we never lose touch with each other, this young man will always be special to me like so many others who came before him and the many others who will undoubtedly come after him. People do not ever stop being important in your life. They are always there, dancing in your memories, surfacing to remind you of thier significance when you least expect them to.