The Abandoned Dog

January, 1925. It was the time to set the record for the lowest temperature, here and there throughout the country, as the Hudson River in New York froze and the record-breaking intense cold from Alaska swept over. An epidemic spread in the city of Nome, Alaska where many Inuit Indians and the population of 20,000 lived due to the discovery of gold in the beginning of the 20^th century. The children of the Inuit Eskimo were dying in the days after the disease broke out since they had no immunes to Diphtheria. The hospital had some drugs, but they had already expired 7 years earlier. The weather became too cold and the only transportation, an aircraft used in World War I, was broken apart and all the pilots were in the south. In this circumstance, the leaders of the town held a meeting and reached a conclusion that the only option was a dog-sled. Even this was not easy for mushers, as well as dogs, in the record-breaking cold in which temperatures dropped to even -75 degrees. It was a situation where one should have to risk his life. Nevertheless, the 20 teams of mushers and 150 dogs that ran in darkness the distance of 674 miles, depending on the animal’s instinct and the driver’s experience, saved a lot of people by having run for 127 hours.

In this famous serum run, a dog named Balto and his owner Gunnar Kaasen distinguished themselves as heroes but the distance they ran was 53 miles, longer than most teams, but much easier than the team of Togo and Leonhard Seppala who ran the longest and the most dangerous 91 miles. Then why did people make a statue of Balto instead of Togo in New York? Balto became a movie hero and received popularity throughout the country, but why did Togo become a forgotten hero who is remembered only by history buffs?

At the time, the team of Togo and Seppala was already famous since they made a sweep of first place in the dog-sled race. Togo’s father was Suggen, a well-known champion in many races, and his mother Dolly was from a good pedigree who had been imported from Siberia to Alaska for the first time. Seppala, his musher was also born in Norway and thus, had no problem with cold and was a typical iron man who’d honed his skills in the gold mines. On the other hand, Balto was an abandoned dog whose parents as well as his date of birth were ambiguous. Since his bloodline was unknown, and his size wasn’t received as a lead dog, he had a vasectomy within 6 months of birth lest he produce offspring of the same kind. In every aspect, he was an abandoned dog. His musher Kaasen, a Norway native, was also an ordinary miner. His boss was Seppala and he had never run in any race, let alone any experience in winning races with Balto. They were just a rubbish dog, and a musher who carried stuff in a mining company.

Because of this background, the most difficult and dangerous and longest course was naturally assigned to the veteran Togo and the easiest course to Balto. Though it was a relatively easy course, the one word coming from the exhausted Kaasen who arrived at 5:30 am to deliver the medicine after having run through the dark night in severe cold without taking a rest was “Damn fine dog.” In fact, considering the natural ability and the 10 year training and experience and the ability of his musher Seppala, it was a natural decision for Togo. However, coming to think of the responsibility and duty for Balto who had no experience in leading and his novice musher, the task was heavier for Balto than for Togo. Perhaps, that may be the primary reason which made him a hero figure. Another reason that can’t be ignored is that most people do not know about the other 19 teams, except that it was Balto that delivered the medicine as the last and was known through the radio which had just become popular.

There is a saying “It is a case of a kite breeding a hawk.” Compared to those who were born in a prestigious family, received good education and become influential, a person who didn’t receive any support from parents, worked his way through schools, and made himself a success is treated as a true hero in Korea as well as in America. For instance, the contribution of President Lincoln and Ro, Moo-Hyun looks greater relatively since they overcame their poor backgrounds. It is not a matter of right and wrong, but just something one can accept.

I think about this situation in light of our position. Particularly, when we’re compared to pastors, professional ministers or theologians in seminary, we laymen fall short of them in terms of academic career, time of prayer, or any background. But the laymen who witness to people, lead them to the church and take care of them and make unbelievers recognize the true Savior through exemplary Christian life and lead them to salvation are real heroes. I want to shout to the world that such insignificant lay people can live more heroic lives than any other professional ministers in relative value. Though the whole Christian world seems to be owned by professionals like pastors or ministers, the real heroes that should be counted are the church members who work hard according to the command of the Lord who loves them and believes in their ability. And these are the heroes like Balto.

I want to remind myself once again. My background is not noticeable, and I am not particularly smart and well-educated. But if I am faithful to the work given to me, and do my best risking my life, I would become a hero whether I run as the last runner or people take me well in relative terms—especially from the perspective of the Lord who created me.