Two Kinds Of Courage

Year 8-Day 126: Today, I am grateful for two kinds of courage. 

Courage comes in different form. Different kinds of courage are required, depending on the circumstance. Winston Churchill says it well:

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." -Winston Churchill

His words ring true. We see it all the time. There are times it is hard discern what is true. Our vision can become clouded by too many voices all speaking at the same time. 

A wise person once told me, "There are two sides to every story and the truth is often somewhere in the middle." Basically, they were affirming that our perceptions and preconceptions can alter reality. 

What is the opposite of courage? Most might say cowardliness or fear. Because I have been taught that anger is a secondary emotion... another emotion comes first... I find it curious how closely it is related to lack of courage. When people are scared or afraid to do the right thing, they are often more angry with themselves than the actual circumstance faced. Proverbs offers several passages. Here are two: 

"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."-Proverbs 15:18

"Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense."-Proverbs 19:11

Jesus stood up for the hurting, the discouraged, the sick and the lost. There were other times he took the rabbi seat and taught with wisdom and confidence. There were times he simply listened. 

For humans, listening can be hard. We love to have the last word in a battle of wits. I am not exempt from that weakness. There are other times we fear "rocking the boat", so we remain silent when we should speak. 

We can pray for wisdom, courage and kindness to be give in equal measure as needed. 

Today, I am grateful for two kinds of courage.