The world needs more Louis Zamperinis. And if you don’t know who he is, you obviously haven’t read the best selling novel Unbroken or watched the movie of the same name. He was an athlete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and then later a prisoner of war during World War II. Zamperini recently died at the age of 96 — after living a full, amazing life.
Zamperini survived torture at the hands of Japanese prison guards by will and then later defeated PTSD by faith. He could have chosen a path of victimhood (and had every right to do so) but didn’t. After being forced to go to a Billy Graham revival by his wife, he chose the path of forgiveness. His torment, nightmares and alcoholism ceased. He went on to pay that blessing forward by helping scores of underprivileged kids throughout the years.
He chose forgiveness. He ceased being a victim. He changed the script playing in his head.
And for that he’s my hero. I see so many people who are being held prisoner by past events — I know I am at times. I think about how many blessings I’ve missed because of my anger.
I highly recommend that you read Laura Hillenbrand’s excellent book if you haven’t (she also wrote the amazing Seabiscuit, too.) The world needs more Louis Zamperinis. And Lord knows, I need his spirit.