The lives of great men and women always inspire us. Individuals who break barriers or overcome adversity raise our sights and encourage us to be our own best selves.
These individuals, and sometimes role models, are frequently political and community leaders, military officers, athletes, and other public figures. We admire them and sometimes think they can do no wrong. This kind of “hero worship” can also occur in subtler ways—whether it’s claiming that a beloved spouse is always perfect or that a straight-A student never struggles. Despite our confidence in their infallibility, these individuals sometimes fail to meet our high standards.
When we learn that a public figure or an important person in our lives has faltered, disappointment often follows. We might lament as David did, after the death of King Saul and his son, Jonathan: “How are the mighty fallen!” (II Samuel 1:19). That phrase has been used more recently to lament the personal failings of important people, rather than their passing on as in the case of Saul and his son.
