COURAGE – the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
“I’m frankly tired of marching. I’m tired of going to jail,” Martin Luther King, Jr. admitted in 1968. “Living every day under the threat of death, I feel discouraged every now and then and feel my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.”
Monday our country celebrates the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated on April 4, 1968 as he stood on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.
Years ago, I read somewhere that Rev. King and his wife never parted without good words between them because they both knew that at any time his life might be taken by those so against his march for racial justice. So, today when I thought about that, I considered how much courage it took for both of them to step out into every day.
“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles;
Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.
Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it.
Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?
Expediency asks the question, is it politic?
Vanity asks the question, is it popular?
But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Courage is something we admire in our leaders, especially those who are in the forefront of difficult times in the history of our world or in their own lives. Winston Churchill was England’s Prime Minister when things looked very dark for them during World War II, but even at those times when all seemed lost, he helped the English citizens face every day with courage.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ~Winston Churchill
Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady during some hard years for our country, first during the Great Depression and then as our nation went to war.
“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt
“Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion no matter where it is exercised.” ~Walt Disney
Courage is necessary for our leaders, but also for each of us as we go through our daily lives. Not many of us face the challenges that Martin Luther King Jr. or Winston Churchill faced, but we can still face times and days that need courage. At times they are big challenges and other times challenges that aren’t life threatening but still can be daunting.
Maybe a young child having to let go of his or her mother’s hand and walk into school for the first time. Maybe an older child walking into school when they feel alone and friendless. Maybe a parent helping a child through a serious illness and each day having to put on a courageous face. Maybe a daughter or son helping an elderly parent traverse those last years where their steps or thinking ability is faltering. Maybe a Christian standing up for what he or she believes. Maybe homeowners looking at their houses in splinters after a tornado or seeing flood waters wash away a life’s accumulation of memories and wondering what to do. Maybe a teenager getting behind the wheel to learn to drive or his mother and father in the passenger seat ready to undertake that teaching. Maybe a preacher standing behind a pulpit for the first time. Maybe a writer writing the first sentence of a novel. Maybe a singer stepping up to the microphone.
So many times in our everyday lives, whether we are famous leaders or simply holding down our corner of the world, we face situations where we need an extra burst of courage.
And sometimes we do mess up. The first sentence doesn’t work. The whole novel doesn’t work, doesn’t find readers. The singer forgets her words. The teenager runs into a ditch. That’s when we have to pull up the courage not to give up. To write another novel. Sing another song. Get pulled out of the ditch and drive on. Hold onto the daily courage to live our lives the best we can.
We can always look to the Lord to find courage if we’re walking in His way. The Bible has many stories and verses to inspire courage. I like this verse from the book of Joshua.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (New King James version
Have you ever faced a challenge in your life – whether big or small – that took courage?