Encouragement
“Lord, I need your courage today. Help me to look for opportunities to make known your Gospel. And when I speak, give me words so that I can fearlessly declare and demonstrate your Gospel of love.”
Joni Eareckson Tad (Diamonds in the Dust)
There are many people who are afraid of the current violent events throughout the world, because they have no control over them, or are afraid that the problems of life are just too much to cope with. They hesitate to accept responsibilities, believing that they will not be able to live up to the demands put upon them.
Yet fear is a natural instinct and is possessed by all living creatures, animals and man alike. It is one of the most essential factors in life, and oddly enough it is for our own good, for without feeling fear we would not be able to avoid real danger when it does present itself.
There comes a time, however, when these problems, real or imaginary, have to be faced, and despite the assurances of well meaning friends when they tell us “Don’t worry! It may never happen”, we cannot pretend that the problem is not there. The facing of problems is a test of our maturity, a test of our courage, and it is through our actions that we grow spiritually.
But first of all, this is what courage isn’t: It is not the loud-mouthed braggart who throws his weight about, inviting a fistfight wherever he goes. And it isn’t the fool who is not happy unless he is vandalising something, or threatening and intimidating those who are more vulnerable, or weaker, or those who cannot defend themselves. Courage is that firmness of spirit, the ability to act in the face of fear, of doing what we are sorely afraid to do. That is true courage.
There are many accounts of heroism throughout the ages, and the story of the Pilgrim Fathers is one of the most famous. After many years of persecution in England, the Pilgrims, a group of Separatists, decided to settle as colonists in America. In September 1620, they started on their journey where they were to face great hardships and danger. When they finally arrived on the American shore and established the Plymouth Colony, they then found themselves at the mercy of the elements, and the savagery of the native Indians. But the pilgrims never wavered in their faith.
As for courage on a personal level consider Saint Alban, the first English martyr. Alban was a Roman soldier during the rule of the Emperor Diocletian, in about the year 305. Alban sheltered a fugitive priest, and when the Emperors soldiers searched the house, he disguised himself as the priest and although he knew what the consequences would be, gave himself up. He was eventually tried by a military tribunal, and beheaded.
At the spot where the execution took place now stands St. Albans Abbey, in the city of St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, England. And, of course, at this most poignant time, we cannot touch upon the subject of courage without mentioning all those servicemen and women who selflessly laid down their lives, and those who were terribly maimed, in the service of their country. We truly do owe them so much. It is at this time of the year when we gather to pay tribute to all those gallant people, and give thanks that they were there to protect us during those dark days. Theirs was heroism of a unique kind.
Fortunately, it is most unlikely that we will ever be called upon to display such bravery as we have seen here, but nevertheless there will be times when we will have to confront our own seemingly insurmountable problems and difficult choices.
Yet daily we walk among those who have faced, or who are confronting illness or disease, or those who have suffered surgery and it’s often painful after effects. Theirs is a quiet courage, unspectacular in it’s way, but just as powerful, for it shows just how remarkable and resilient we human beings can be, even at the most challenging and threatening of times.
The Cross is a potent symbol of Christian courage, and acts as an enduring reminder that when a problem raises it’s ugly head, or when we are faced with suffering and fear, we will always have a greater power to draw upon, to help us in that time of need. The important thing is to live with faith, in a full and active life, making the most of every moment as it comes. Thus we will view each day as an exciting adventure, in the certain knowledge that if, and when, danger looms on the horizon, we will have all the courage we need to overcome it.
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