Hugh O'Brian was famous in the early days of television for
playing the role of the legendary Wyatt Earp.
The show was a half hour in length and was along the same line as other
30 minute westerns like Gunsmoke and Have Gun, Will Travel. O'Brian is now 86 years of age and has
become an example of how Christianity should work. I make that statement without any knowledge
of O'Brian's religious preferences, or if he is connected with any
denominational tag.
The year was 1958 when, between filming his Wyatt Earp TV
shows, O'Brian was making the circuit with a traveling circus, headlining a
cowboy shooting act. He received an invitation from Dr. Albert Schweitzer to
come to Africa. Schweitzer was running a medical clinic there and O'Brian spent
9 life-changing days observing and helping at the clinic. As he was preparing to leave Africa,
Schweitzer came to him and asked, "What are you going to do with all you
have learned?"
O'Brian pondered that question over and over on his long
trip home. It led to other questions concerning how he might do something in
life to make a difference for others. He wanted to impact the world in such a
way, that the world would be a better place.
From these thoughts a vision emerged.
Just two weeks after O'Brian returned from Africa, he started
rounding up kids. They had to be about
the age of 15, and sophomores in high school.
He felt this was the age he could work with and they would have two more
years of high school to share with their classmates. This was the beginning of an organization
called HOBY, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership.
The goal was to get the "cream-of-the-crop" kids from across
the nation and allow them to be exposed to the best motivational leaders in the
country. Those kids would attend a 3-day
seminar, absolutely free to the kids, and allow them direct contact with the
country's greatest innovators.
HOBY has grown every year since its inception, bringing in
over 15,000 kids annually, to 70
locations across every state. Many of
those attending this year will be third generation HOBY participants. From the
group of HOBY attendees, has come well known ministers, CEO's, judges,
financial experts, educators, and the list could go on. Also from the group there emerges numerous
stories of successful husbands and fathers.
Contributions from big business and individuals fund the events every
year, and most of the donors will tell you it's the best investment they have
ever made.
So these are the basics of the story of the hero for lots of
kids in the 50's as Wyatt Earp tamed the west. But his story continued because
of the concern he had for helping others overcome mediocrity and become an
asset to society, not only in business dealings, but also in the way they treat
people, their love of others in helping them to be overcomers, and the overall
goals they reached in making a difference.
I can almost see the crusty old cowboy smiling as he
realizes how his dream to make a difference still brings that difference to so
many kids. And we, complaining that we
are only one person and resources are limited, and we work too many hours,
often go through life without a vision or a goal. What do you suppose could be accomplished in
our community, in our churches and schools, in our homeless shelters, or in our
country clubs, if we had the love for others that Jesus calls us to have? We who find loving God is easy, find loving
others more difficult. Both are commands from the same savior that loves
us. So today I pray, "Lord give me
the vision to see greater ways that I can serve you, and give me the love for
others so I can make a difference."
Thanks Wyatt. You are my hero again.
<ronbwriting@yahoo.com>
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