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I see him around town sometimes. The other day he was in our neighborhood coffee shop where I heard the lady behind the counter call him Ray. He looks to be in his thirties with brown hair and always wears neatly-pressed khakis and a flannel shirt. A red bandana is usually tied around his neck. 

Whenever I see this man, I’m struck by his courage.

Ray sits in one of those high-tech wheelchairs that support not only his legs, but back and head.

The coffee shop was quiet that mid-afternoon, two days after Christmas. A few people were scattered about, myself included. Once settled, Ray’s aide, a small African-American woman, handed the lady behind the counter a loaf of bread. I wondered if it was gluten-free or easier for Ray to swallow.

While waiting, he and I happened to look at each other. I smiled and he gave a shy smile back. In a few minutes his sandwich arrived, cut into four neat triangles. It looked like tuna fish. He said thank you in labored speech.

I sat at a nearby counter, eating my egg and cheese, wondering what had happened to him. Was it Illness? A car accident? Was he born with this affliction or did it come later in life? I wondered if the red bandanna hid a medical port. How is it to go through days always at the mercy of others?

Ray slowly fed himself while his aide chatted on her cell phone. The coffee shop was full of tinsel and garland strung around the ceiling. Something about guinea pigs played on the television, switched to the Animal Planet.

Like many of us, Ray probably just wanted to get out of the house. Perhaps he wanted to feel part of the world, something I understand. I wondered where he lived and who he lived with? Does he get lonely, even though he’s surrounded by helpers?

A few minutes later, I finished my meal, taking one last glance. He sat watching the television, a piece of sandwich in his hand.

I walked to my car but couldn’t help think how bravery’s defined in many ways. In the movies it’s often with gun-toting macho men, coolly walking away from bombs detonating ten feet behind them.

But there’s another kind of bravery, the kind that touches me most. It’s the quiet courage needed to muster through another day with a body that doesn’t work, the kind of fortitude it takes to be different, of having to put up with stares and questions.

For some people, the simplest things, like going to the neighborhood coffee shop is an act of will and strength. For some people, going anywhere is an act of courage.

Every time I see Ray I’m struck by how remarkable he is. I hope I see him again. He doesn’t know it—and would probably be surprised if he did—but he’s become one of my heroes.

 

Do you have a Ray who inspires you? Comments are always welcome and if you’d like to receive postings by email, just press here. Thank you so much for reading and sharing!

Comments(22)

  1. Beautiful post, thank you for sharing!

  2. Thank you for reading, Chloe.

  3. This post is a great reminder of the bravery and inner strength ‘ordinary people’ display every day – in the little things we do. Great story.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thank you for reading, Kate!

  4. I have a ‘Ray’ in my life. A young man named Lincoln. A couple of summers ago, at the age of 14, Lincoln had a serious accident on his bicycle. It rendered him a quadriplegic. He can move his head and lift one hand an inch or so, but that is the limit of his movement. Through sheer determination, he has weaned himself off his respirator and can now eat food. Despite his circumstances, he is always cheerful and smiling. Pleasant to be around and every popular with the rest of the group I teach. Lincoln is my hero!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Diane, Lincoln sounds like an amazing young man. I always admire anyone who goes on as best they can under horrible circumstances. They’re inspirations to the rest of us.

  5. I love this post so much, I have a few Rays in my life . . . always inspired by their willingness to simply ‘be’ who they are. The most important two, my heroes, are my sons. They are different, and while they could hide from the world, the comments, the awkwardness – they choose to embrace their uniqueness and I couldn’t be more proud 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Crystal, I can’t help but think your two sons get some of their attitude from you. They have a foundation of love at home that gives them confidence. You should be proud of them and yourself.

  6. This is just wonderful! You’re my hero, Ray!
    I’ve told you before about my Lincoln. For three years, I was privileged to teach him. A quadriplegic, he has very limited use of one arm, in that he can raise and lower it somewhat, but has no control over that hand. Everything has to be done for him. His wheelchair is controlled by his head. He was in my class every single day, full of cheer and goodwill. One of the other students suggested I should watch a movie in which a man paralyzed in an accident commits suicide and Lincoln was SO disgusted. “He kills himself! When he had everything to live for! What’s with that?!”
    It was a truly unique perspective from someone uniquely qualified. I love this young man so much. He has been the greatest example of my life!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Diane, Lincoln sounds like an amazing person. The human spirit is so strong. People like him teach us to not only put everything in perspective, but also that joy comes from within, not outside.

  7. Silent heroes are truly my favorite. Thanks for writing (and sharing) this story about yours 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Mona, I admire silent heroes like Ray so much more than the violent, gun-toting macho guys in our movies.

  8. Wow I loved reading this. I don’t have a Ray in my life perse but when I do see someone like this I take note of their courage as well. It puts everything into perspective. And if I am with my young sons I pray they won’t say anything embarrassing or stare. They usually don’t but they don’t exactly have indoor voices. 😉 This was so well written.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Lauren, Sounds like you’re teaching your sons sensitivity with your example. One more thing to make this a better, more compassionate world.

  9. The ones I see are Veterans who have become homeless. We have plenty of them on the streets of LA and it’s so sad. They fought for us but aren’t being taken care of. They are true heroes.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Rebecca, We march them off to war with much fanfare, but when they come back, its another story. LA is in the news a lot with that situation. To be honest, I worry for them.

  10. My Lincoln continues to amaze me. I dedicated my newest book to him. Recently, he has been called to be a missionary, which I think is extraordinary! He is so excited to serve!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Wow, Diane. Very impressive and I’m not surprised with you as his mother!

  11. My Lincoln is now enrolled in psychology at University! He’s going to be a counselor! He’ll be the best. Ever!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Diane, My son is also studying in that field! Why am I not surprised?

  12. Yes. Remarkable is the right word. How much I appreciate his courage.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Carol, Some people are unbelievable. I know several of them.

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