Courage

The etymology or root of the word courage comes from the Latin word cor which means “heart.” Courage is a matter of the heart. While some define courage as facing a difficulty or a danger without fear, I rather think that courage is facing that difficulty or danger even in the face of fear. Sometimes courage is getting up in the morning when all seems bleak and lost. Sometimes courage is going to bed knowing that someone you love is in pain, and all you can do is pray.

Over the last week, I have thought a great deal about courage as a step in going deeper within and facing the questions of our lives. It is looking at the unknown and taking a step towards it, maybe even while flinching inside. Courage is seeing only a tiny bit of the path ahead and still stepping out upon it, knowing that God is with me.

The word courage appears only seven times in the New Revised Standard Verson. In four of the occurrences, courage fails, it melts away. Once David prays in courage. Once in Ezekiel, the Lord asks if the people’s courage can endure when God takes measures against their faithlessness. Only once does it occur in the New Testament when Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2).

Three times Jesus tells someone he heals to “take heart,” and twice he tells the disciples to “take heart” and not be afraid when they see him walking on the water.

There are moments when it feels as though the task is too large, too impossible, too fearful; at those times it seems that my heart will melt away and my courage fail. In those moments, the heart of our community gives me courage and allows me to stand up, and answer the call. In the midst of you, I find the heart of Jesus beating within me.

Mark 10:49

Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.”