”Courage is the basic virtue for everyone so
long as he continues to grow, to move ahead.” Rollo May
Fear
limits a leader: Roman historian Tacticus wrote, “The desire for safety stands
against every great and noble enterprise.”
But courage has the opposite effect. It opens doors, and that’s one of
its most beautiful benefits. Perhaps that is why British Theologian John Henry
Newman said, “Fear not that your life will come to an end but that it will
never have a beginning.” Courage not only gives you a good beginning, but it also
provides a better future.
Courage
is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger,
difficulty or opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great
actions and the spark that ignites the initial steps of growth. It is the
intangible force that propels you forward on your journey. What inspires you to
action? For some it is a belief in a higher power, for some it can be an
inspiring music and for others perhaps great literature or spiritual passages. Regardless
of what your connection is to the divine source, for you will need to call upon
it in those moments when you require courage.
There
is a story related to the Old Testament tradition concerning the Exodus of the
Israelites from Egypt. God has promised them liberation and freedom. Moses
raises his arms and voice in prayer for God to lead his people to safety.
Indeed, nothing happens until the first person actually steps in to the water
and shows, through that simple act, that he has faith in God’s promise of
salvation. When that first step of courage is taken, the sea parts, and the
people cross over into freedom and liberation. Courage consists not in blindly
overlooking danger, but in seeing and conquering it. Let the great
personalities inspire us to have courage to face life as it comes.
Sr (Dr) Lilly SJL Thockanattu
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