Growing Courage

Courage is the virtue that endows a person the ability to stand strong in the face of danger and look it straight in the eye and not flinch (maybe that’s not always true). Such would be recognized as being courageous and be looked upon as a “brave” among the people. Whatever the degree of courage, what a courageous person does is that he or she gives courage to others – helps courage grow in others. Their presence makes all the difference.

The popularity of superheroes in a way points to our desire for courage. They are our perfect models; with immeasurable strength and abilities nothing seems to stop them. Except for a small flaw or weakness which can temporarily cause them to weaken but they will not be stopped at anything. At the risk of their lives they will jump into the chaos. This is the world of heroes, a world that depends on their heroes for the balance of life to be maintained. But as much as they inspire us, in a way we know it is not real – the outcome of the battle is already known, they always win. They always seem to make it back to receive the adulation of the commoners and without them the latter would perish.

In contrast to the world of superheroes, in our world, we have the common, not very much of a hero person, who rises to an occasion. Courage, however, is not innate and often has to be learned. The risk of failure is a real threat. Where does then courage arise from? It arises within the ability to face fears knowing the risks involved. It lies in the ability to risk failure knowing that life itself is in the danger of being lost (and sometimes it happens – a tragic end to a heroic story). 

This courage is “common” because it claims no superhuman origin. It is “common” because every person can exercise and grow this courage. It is “common” because it grows through the small seemingly mundane events of daily life – courage to tell the truth over the fear of being sidelined, to do the right thing and risk being ridiculed, courage to not take advantage to gain when a mistake is made. It is “common” because it grows through the various opportunities “to do right” that come along the way. It is not the desperate effort when all is lost. This is courage that has grown over life’s experiences – having lost some, having won some.

Yes, I will still celebrate the superheroes and their feats and stories. But I am a commoner, an ordinary person – those feats are out of my league. So I pursue “common” courage in an effort to make our world a better place. “Common” courage begins in the small things of life – learning to stand and walk; go to class and sit with a group of strangers; talk to that strict teacher and ask for permission to go out; give an honest answer to why the biscuits are missing; sleep with the lights switched off; return that extra change the shopkeeper gave by mistake. While we may make no tales or headlines (some people have), no harm in letting courage grow in us and others. May we all grow common courage and help others too – for a start I should probably stop telling my younger brother there’s a spook in the dark closet.