There aren’t too many notable personalities in this world that I admire. Most celebrities I find to be terribly boorish, poor role models, or just simply someone I would never want to emulate.

Steve Irwin, known famously worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter, is one of those people whom I have grown to admire over the years. As someone who not only respected God’s creation, but did much to teach us about wildlife and how to nurture and protect it, Steve put his words into action. Tirelessly, Steve traveled the world to champion the cause of threatened species everywhere, not just in his beloved Australia. Now, we all have learned of his death, caused by a “freak” stingray accident off of the Queensland, Australia coast.

Irwin, like all of us, wasn’t without his faults or controversy. His decision to bring his infant son into a crocodile pen as he fed a crock was both disturbing and careless. Later, he was criticized for upsetting an Antarctic habitat while filming a documentary there. If you looked at these two incidents alone you might assume that Irwin was a foolhardy person. However, the man accomplished much good, the daring personality that he was.

The news of Steve’s death is too new to imagine all that will transpire in the weeks and months ahead as related to his work. A fitting tribute to Irwin would be for others to take up his mantle and press forward with all that he has accomplished; mourn for the moment than work toward continuing to educate the world about God’s creatures, great and small.

Heartfelt sympathy to Steve’s widow Terri and to their two children, Bindi and Bob.

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