PAT TILLMAN…………Continued

April 23, 2005

When I heard about his death Friday morning, I sat down at my computer and wrote the commentary. Somehow, I had forgotten to do it Thursday night and so the door was open.

In the last twenty four hours I have read numerous stories on him- most of which I already knew. The culmination of all those stories reminds me of the line in the movie, “Is This As Good As It Gets” wherein Jack Nicholson tells Diane Keaton, “You make me want to be a better man.”

Hearing Pat’s story over and over again leaves me with the proverbial good news-bad news feeling. Can a man (read mankind) really be that good? How can a man give up so much that the world cherishes to go after what seems to be so ideal, so right, so God?

As I examine my life I wonder if it’s possible to recapture some of the plans that God originally had for me- for us all. It’s both humbling and challenging to see the comparison of a life given to God, country, duty, and then look at what the rest of us sem to chase.

Audie Murphy just got replaced on my “hero” list. Pat Tillman has given me a glimpse of what we were built and intended to be. May I borrow another line from a recent movie (The Last Samurai), and say may his LIFE (not his death) be what I remember, and try to model.

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary