A study on corporate managers was commissioned a few years ago. In it they were asked if they voiced positions that 1. focused on the good of the company, rather than personal benefit and 2. jeopardized their own careers. The results of this study found four leader-types in all organizations.
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Type #1 courageous. These people expressed ideas to help the company improve, in spite of personal risk or opposition.
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Type #2 confronting. These people spoke up, but only because of a personal vendetta against the company.
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Type #3 calloused. These people didn’t know, or care, whether they could do anything for the company; they felt helpless and hopeless, so they kept quiet.
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Type #4 conforming. These people also remained quiet, but only because they loathed confrontation and loved approval.
The researchers discovered that the courageous managers accomplished the most, reported the highest job satisfaction, and eventually were commended by superiors. Their commitment had certainly improved the quality of their lives. Courage is the most important quality of any leader.
J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of “Lord of the Rings” and many other great literary works, contributes this comment, “Courage is found in unlikely places.” We are all looking for courage right now and I can see it manifested in so many ways. I have seen courage in the people who restock the shelves of the grocery store. Those that drive the trucks across the country to make sure we have the goods we need are an inspiration to me in this time. Bus drivers, checkout clerks, drive up attendants at McDonalds and so many others are the most unlikely people of courage I have ever seen. The list of these unlikely people of courage could fill this whole page, but I just want to say thanks to all of them.
There is another area of courage I want to mention and that is all of you. You have isolated yourselves and lived life in ways that you never imagined to protect yourselves and those you love and don’t even know from this virus. It has taken remarkable courage to carve a new way of living so that we may all live a healthy and promising life. Be courageous enough to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, wear gloves when necessary, and above all, accept social distancing as a part of life. These are all acts of courage we must continue to do so that we might look forward to a wonderful future.
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
QUOTES
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
― Winston S. Churchill
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
― E.E. Cummings
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.
― Maya Angelou
You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.
― William Faulkner
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.
― Anais Nin
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.
― Mark Twain
Courage is found in unlikely places.
― J.R.R. Tolkien
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”
― Brene Brown
Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Scripture
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
+ Psalm 56:3-4
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
+ Isaiah 41:10
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
+ Isaiah 41:13
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
+ Matthew 10:28
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
+ 1 Corinthians 16:13
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
+ Philippians 1:12-14
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
+ Hebrews 13:5-6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
+ Deuteronomy 31:6
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
+ Psalm 27:1
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
+ 2 Timothy 1:7
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
+ 1 John 4:18
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
+ 1 Chronicles 28:20
Prayer
LORD, I ask you to give me the courage to face the day and the determination to make it better. You know that I am afraid, and I know that you will help me to overcome that fear with the courage you provide by the spirit that you have given to me. Let me live this life with a spirit of courage and victory despite all the adversity that surrounds me. May your spirit dominate my thoughts even in the darkest times.
Amen
A Pastor's Thoughts 