Editor’s note: In Heroic Leadership, Chris Lowney explores four foundational pillars of leadership exemplified by the Jesuits: self-awareness, ingenuity, love, and heroism. We’ve invited dotMagis bloggers to reflect on each pillar. Everyday courage is an aspect of heroism. Explore these ideas further with the exercises in The Heroic Leadership Workbook.
The word courage conjures up the picture of a young teen David standing up to Goliath. When the rest of the Israelites, including David’s older brothers, were terrified of the man taunting and screaming insults at their God, David was not deterred by size or strength. He stood resolute, defiant, and ready to fight. He was the embodiment of courage.
David knew that even though he was smaller and less equipped, God would provide a way. As I learned the story as a child, David asked the men around him, “Are we not in the army of the living God?”
I think about this Scripture story often lately. I think of it when I am silent as those around me spout lies. Sometimes these lies are about the world around us, sometimes they are about the people talking, and sometimes they are about the God I say I love.
These people are not giants, yet I sit there, silent.
“Are you not in the army of the living God?” I hear in my head. And I know God will provide a way.
Every day the Lord brings us opportunities to share both his truth and his love. May we not let the opportunity pass by us with our silence.
At the grocery store, I see an old colleague of mine. We catch up on children and spouses until he starts in on a “joke” I’ve heard passed around on the Internet. It’s not really a joke but actually a horrible thing to say about any human, even one you do not like. It is a political point of view wrapped in gossip and wrapped as a joke.
My old colleague wants me to laugh too. He wants me to perpetuate this lie.
He is no Goliath. And some might even say it is not a big deal. Why not just laugh and move along?
But it is a big deal. We’re talking about gossip, jokes, and speech that demean the value of humans made in the image of God.
So often something like this happens, and I am silent. I want the other person to like me. I don’t want to rock the boat. Is it worth it?
But I begin to realize as he repeats the joke, to make certain I “get” it, that not only is it mean and gossip, but my old colleague is also making fun of God.
Am I not in the army of the living God?
It isn’t something big. It is an everyday courage, a small thing I can do to stand up for God.
In Deuteronomy, God tells the Israelites to, “Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread…the LORD your God…goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” (31:6) I am not dealing with the trials of the Israelites. Certainly, I can be brave.
And it really doesn’t take much in this case. It’s not a big, brave thing to do. It takes only a small comment. “That’s not nice or true,” I say softly and sweetly.
The colleague hears me. He apologizes, “You are right. It’s not. I’m sorry.” He changes the subject easily.
It is a small thing, but maybe the small, everyday moments of bravery are where we learn to be brave for the big moments.
St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians are an exhortation for us today; “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
Image: “David and Goliath” by Osmar Schindler, public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
