History

Spike TV had a marathon showing of Tom Hank's Band of Brothers recently. It an undescribable series chock full of lessons and stories applicable through the ages. As the story of Easy Company unfolds, the quantity and quality of leadership life-lessons becomes relentlessly apparent.
For a time the company was caught at Bastogne, from Christmas through the new year 1944-1945. The company commader was a guy by the name of 1LT Dike who according to accounts given by the men of Easy Company, was a leader of constant unexplained disappearances, inattention to the men under his command, and his preference for remaining in a foxhole, rather than fighting, and earned the pejorative nickname of "Foxhole Norman."
I woke this morning thinking of "Foxhole Norman." Here is a man simply existing, doing what he does. THIS is who he is, nothing more, nothing less. His day-by-day activities seemingly account for nothing significant. I wonder, did 1LT Dike at anytime during his existence as a company commander ever stop to think that he was going to make it into a history book? Had he known his name was going to be in print, would he have changed some of the actions he did take or did not take during his time in command?
I would be absolutely vain to think my name is worthy of historical archives, but as I make my way through life doing what I do because of who I am, have I ever stopped to think that maybe someday, my name will be mentioned in the chronicles of time and that maybe I should live as if I was the one writing history? After all, isnt the process of daily living an endurance run in and of itself complete with a finish line?
By the way, 1LT Dike actually became LTC Dike with a law degree from Yale.