much more.

I was watching "Ali" recently. Everytime I watch this movie, one segment hits me particularly hard. Settles heavily on me like a steel blanket.
Ali has come to Africa for the second time, to battle George Foreman for the heavyweight championship of the world. He had his own title stripped from him in 1964 for failing to accept induction into the United States Armed Forces. 32 years old, his prime boxing years have passed, being unable to box anywhere as he fought against the U.S. Government to overturn his conviction for refusing the induction, and fighting against boxing commissions in every state to regain a boxing license so he can fight somewhere. Anywhere.
George Foreman is young, and looks like a superhuman experiment gone wrong. George Foreman laid Smokin' Joe Frazier out like a rug. People all over believe this same fate will visit Ali. Critics doubt him. His wife doubts him.

He doubts himself.

Everytime he goes anywhere in Zaire, he goes with great fanfare. A simple jog is no different, as people swarm him, chanting "Bumaye Ali!" (Ali, kill him). He wonders briefly about this attention he his receiving, but dismisses it. He his Ali, the greatest heavyweight of all time. He is Ali, the "Louisville Lip" who proclaims his greatness from every mountain top, or hill, or small mound, to any ear within range. He is Ali, who fought against Big Brother, the sho' nuff badddest brother around town, and won.
As he jogs through town, however, he sees for the first time why these people follow him. People who have no doubt heard of some of his exploits, but not all of them, and none of the details. They have no real reason to love him as they do, but that does not stop the outpouring of love that they shower upon Ali.
Pictures are scrawled on every blank space with depictions of a larger than life Ali, fighting tanks and planes. Mosquitos that carry malaria. Fighting despair, sickness, hopelessness, war, famine, hunger, oppression.

He is more than a boxer to the people of Zaire. Much more.
He has transcended being a "mere mortal". He has become a feeling, an emotion.

He is hope.

Damn. Damn. Heavy.

And in that, he finds the strength to do the impossible.

We are all more than advertised. God has given us all gifts that allow us to become a emotion to someone. Joy. Peace. Hope.
To become a feeling. Inspiration. Motivation. Sanity.

We can inspire those around us to achieve anything.

We all are more to someone than we believe ourselves. More than a friend. More than a daughter, son, brother, sister, aunt, uncle.

We have to realize that we have the ability to do the impossible.
Much more.