Courage
Courage
Authentic human beings find courage within to reach out for greatness but they fail. Sometimes, the result of a courageous act is mediocrity and human beings sink into despair trying to hide but the courage remains and soon visions of greatness re-emerge. They oscillate from one outreach to another. That’s life!
When we realise that the courage in us sources in God, we try even harder until in waves of reaching up and out, we soar like eagles. In antiquity, they called this phenomenon holiness but we have ruined its meaning with a ‘goody-two shoes’ taint. The closer we get to God the more courageous we become. It is very simple, but huge at the same time: when we say ‘yes’ to God, power overwhelms us, changes others and us. Suddenly, the possibilities are diverse, from riches in money, sex and power to a wealth in emotional and psychological power. Whether it is literal or abstract, the overwhelming power of God provides answers to the world’s problems and if we have the courage to take it on, greatness is around the corner.
What do I mean by greatness? All the common appellations, like Mahatma Gandhi or Alexander the Great do not fit our modern world. We are simply still too close to people and we struggle to find a word for Nelson Mandela but we will soon talk of his greatness. There are many more great people but they do not happily sit with greatness and in Christian circles, the problem with humility masks the greatness. In addition, there is something marvellous that we Christians follow in courage and that is, gracious living. The act of being gracious means we defer greatness to the other. If only in attitude but increasingly we actually give the riches away: hence my web is called Seventy Times in support of socio-economic and political movements that forgive 24/7, that set people free and that empower people.
Courage emerges out of the intimacy of our friendship with God. It grows and replenishes us, the more we enjoy and worship God. Mahatma Gandhi demonstrates a continuing intimacy with God and courage strengthening for his acts in breaking the British regime culminating in Indian independence just after the Second World War. It took most of Gandhi’s life of developing courage and often despaired that he had lost it. It took up to ten years for Gandhi to regain his courage each time he acted; he had to renew his relationship and stay close to God. He still belonged in the old tradition of committing vows to stay close to God but today we have found joy in doing things with God. It is not a chore or committing vows.
