Giants Among Us?

I have a confession to make.  

Giants amaze me.  

It is no coincidence that I was thrilled when my brother moved his family to the hometown of Robert Wadlow (the tallest man in medical history), or that I was the loudest one in the room when the New York Giants won the Super Bowl in 2008, or that I still consider Andre the Giant to be the greatest wrestler the world has ever known.

You should know, however, I have not always been this fond of giants.  The first time I heard my parents share the story of David versus Goliath I was skeptical to believe that somebody so large could really exist.  Seriously, the prospect of a man towering high above other people scared the tar out of me.  So by the time a storyteller recounted the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk to my kindergarten class, I had convinced myself that giants were without a doubt make believe.  

But then something unexpected happened.  As I went through school I discovered characters like C.S. Lewis’ Giant Rumblebuffin, Roald Dahl’s The BFG, and Jonathan Swift’s Brobdingnagians and, aside from having some pretty strange names, I actually liked these giants.  I liked them because they seemed helpful, valiant, and brave. These giants compelled me to dream.  They offered inspiration.  These giants even gave me hope.

Unlike the ones I had heard about before, I wanted these giants to exist. 

And I slowly discovered that they did.

I discovered that giants exist in people like Ralph and Mary Catherine, a senior adult couple that ran a shoe store around the corner from where I grew up.  There were no kids my age in the neighborhood so Ralph and Mary Catherine became two of my best friends.  They let me hang out with them at their shop almost every day.  They trusted me with their stories.  They listened to mine.  They encouraged me to dream.

I discovered that giants exist in people like my Uncle Delmar, a man who was born with cerebral palsy.  Doctors said he would never walk and that he would not live past the age of twelve.  But he did learn to walk and he moved in with my family when he was in his sixties.  He has a wild grin and a contagious laugh and everybody he meets get a kick out of him.   He has inspired hundreds of individuals.  

I discovered that giants exist in people like Tim, a man who lived a block from my old apartment.  Tim did not have a home and slept most nights outside.  I was fortunate to become his friend, as he taught me volumes about being a voice for a voiceless population.  Tim is the go-to-guy for understanding the needs of the community’s homeless population.  And the way he is able to bring hope to the many hurting people who cross his path is stunning.

Everywhere I looked I began to see giants, people who were not necessarily known for their physical stature but for their willingness to serve, to make a difference, sometimes to simply be available.

I think what amazes me the most about giants is that there is one in every single person I meet.  Truthfully, we each possess the potential to do something incredible, but somewhere along the way we refuse to believe this.  We doubt that we have something magnificent to say or something great to do.  Yet, when we look for it and when we listen to the life stories being told by folks all around, giants unfold everywhere.  Just look at the single parent raising a child alone, that person is a giant.  Glance across the cubicle, your coworker is a giant.  How about the retiree who lives around the corner?  Or the lady behind you at the grocery store?  Or the person who waited on you at your last meal?  Or the person with the disheveled hair you saw in the mirror this morning?  Yeah, you guessed it.  Giant.  Giant.  Giant.  Giant.

Each one has a story.  And each story is worth remembering and experiencing.  

C.S. Lewis used to say, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”  That’s some sage advice for us to remember.  And if we remember it, it has the power to change the way we live.  So get to looking.  Get to listening.  Allow yourself to get swept away by the stories of a giant who is near you.  I am willing to bet that giants permeate your world and they are just waiting for you to notice them.

Comments

One Response to “Giants Among Us?”

1. cheryl alt says:

   May 19, 2009 at 2:44 am

   WOW! What an AMAZING thought… This makes me see things in a totally different light. I will be watching for the giants I’m sure to encounter in my life. Thanks Daniel. GREAT job. I can’t wait to read more from you!