Who's Your American Idol?

My town is alive with "Scotty" fever.  Tonight, we'll know if our new American Idol is Scotty or Lauren.  Next year, I may not remember who the Idol was, such is the nature of our fast paced culture and our short term memories.   Who of us remembers Taylor Hicks, or Kris Allen, or last year's Idol, Lee DeWyze? 

I wonder the same about our memory of current events.  Who among us remembers how close we came to financial catastrophe as a country in 2007-08 when banks and large corporations began to fail?  Can we look back on 9-11 and remember how vulnerable we were?  Do we remember how close we came to having the Capitol and White House destroyed and even greater loss of life?

And I wonder if we really remember the truest "idols," those who are willing "to lay down their lives for their friends," as did the fire and rescue squad members on 9-11.

This Friday, I will lead in a time of memorial at the hospital where I am working part-time as chaplain.  We will pause for a time of silence.  We may or may not have the outcome of American Idol on our minds.  But we will silently pause to remember all who have faithfully lived and loyally died for our well being.   We will pause to remember the real America idols, unknown and unnamed to most of us, who willingly gave up their lives for thier friends.  Then we will proceed to the picnics, beach trips, and family outtings, grateful again for the true American idols whose sacrificial gifts we enjoy today.