Part II: The Man

“There are no facts. There are only stories.” Whiteman

Steve’s inspiring response to his diagnosis was probably founded on many things. His Christian values – love, faith, family, friends, humility, and generosity played an important role. His strength of character – optimism, gratitude, joy, determination, and persistence were also huge factors. And another element, his love of physical fitness and challenge, came into play.

David Brooks has described two sets of human virtues that may help us understand Steve. Résumé virtues are those that we strive for in our external lives, and eulogy virtues are the deeper qualities that we seek. While many people in our Western society spend much of their energy focused on résumé virtues, Steve seemed to find a balance that enabled him to successfully navigate both sets.

The following stories from the many different people and parts of Steve’s life combined with his own words as he reported the events of his illness will illustrate these beautiful qualities and elements of his deep moral character – his unique blend of eulogy and résumé virtues. It’s been suggested that if we immerse ourselves in the lives of outstanding people, we may be able to understand the wisdom of the way they lived and introduce that wisdom into our own lives. That’s what I’m hoping for.