Courage

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“Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”
― C.S. Lewis

This struck me so profoundly because courage is so often required of us in taking the "right" action in our lives.   You know, we've gotten so politically correct in our lives, careful not to step on any one's toes or hurt feelings and just all get along and be happy - that for us to speak up and defend our other virtues requires courage.   My intellectual curiosity got the better of me to understand by definition the virtues Lewis would be referring to from his time.

From Wikipedia :  In some Christian traditions, there are four cardinal virtues:

• Prudence - able to judge between actions with regard to appropriate actions at a given time
• Justice - proper moderation between self-interest and the rights and needs of others
• Restraint or Temperance - practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation
• Courage or Fortitude - forbearance, endurance, and ability to confront fear and uncertainty, or intimidation

These were derived initially from Plato's scheme (see Protagoras 330b, which also includes piety (hosiotes)) and adapted by Saint Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo, and Thomas Aquinas (see Summa Theologica II(I).61). The term "cardinal" comes from the Latin cardoor hinge; the cardinal virtues are so called because they are hinges upon which the door of the moral life swings.

My note:  Further, Catholic tradition often adds an additional three (hence why I kept thinking there were 7!)  Faith, Hope and Love (Always good things!)   As well there's a different list of 7 Heavenly Virtues written by a Christian poet before 1000 AD, very similar, and while courage isn't mentioned, Diligence is.  It may all be in the translation.

But that's not the point - the point is the importance of Courage.  Courage to take a stand, resist temptation, admit a mistake.     Courage just to take action at all.   So in line with my last theme of "don't be ruled by fear", this reminds us that we must also move out of our comfort zone.   Someone once said to me "be willing to put yourself out there".    It can be a lonely place.   But that "comfort in numbers" thing is overrated (in my opinion) when it comes to standing up for what you believe in and representing who you are and how you want to be remembered.

I am not afraid

Yesterday it occurred to me that I was not afraid.  Okay, that's probably not a thought most people have just in their day-to-day life!  So to put that in context:  What it really means is that I haven't let fear rule my life the way I used to.  The old "corporate" me had a good life, one that put great value in the security that my job provided.   If anything came up that might "shift" that security, I was fearful.   The post "corporate" me - let's call it the "free" me - was initially scared to death because I had defined so much of who I was around a job.    After moving through the shock phase of what had happened, I started listening (and believing) what my wonderful man kept telling me "Its going to be all right".

So, caution and fear were put aside (but not completely gone - I've certainly had my days / moments).   I learned to trust in what my husband was saying and for the very first time in my life, to really trust in God.    Psalm 46:1 says:  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear.

This Psalm was in front of me this morning as I randomly opened a page of a devotional.  I was reminded to my thoughts yesterday and felt compelled to share and to remind those who might need a nudge or push to overcome something fearful in their life.