COURAGE
cour·age
[kur-ij]
–noun
| the quality of mind or spirit
that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without
fear; bravery. |
—Synonyms 1. fearlessness, dauntlessness, intrepidity,
pluck, spirit. Courage, bravery,
valor, refer to
qualities of spirit and conduct (Emphasis mine). Courage permits one to face extreme dangers and
difficulties without fear: to take (or lose)
courage ( that means it is inspired by thought and ACTION).
Bravery implies true courage with daring
and an intrepid boldness: bravery in a
battle. Valor implies heroic courage: valor in fighting for the right.
—Antonyms 1. cowardice.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v
1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc.
2006.
One point I must make based upon personal experience and
observation of others - courage is
not the absence of fear - courage is the quality and attitude that
allows one to function without hindrance in spite of fear. Natural
fear sharpens the senses and quickens the body to be prepared to act
and all of the natural instincts say to run away or hide. This would
be called flight to avoid or escape danger or injury. Courage is the
attitude that quells this tendency to run away... And instead of
running away, to face or to run to the danger; to act,
attack or to defend as the need presents itself.
The following is an exchange between myself and a reader who has also
become my friend. He sends out quotes and mottoes regularly and today
I responded to one about courage.
==================================================================
The quote he sent...
Pain
nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful
things happen to you.
-Mary Tyler Moore-
I'm
not sure that I agree with Ms. Moore, but you decide.
==============================================
My
response...
Acting without knowing what
the consequences could be is not courage. You have to know what it
could cost and still take the action for it to be courageous. I would
use the words experience or
knowledge. One who does not know and acts is not being brave. That
person is still learning. Now if they learn by the action what it
costs to do it... A second action of the same kind would be courageous.
Padre
====================================================================
Padre,
I saw a movie the other day that still haunting me The name of the
movie is "Lions for Lambs" at the end of the movie there is a scene
of two soldiers both shot and alone on a mountain top in Afghanistan...
its night and they've run out of ammo and no further help is expected.
The Taliban fighters are coming for them and the worst wounded one asks
his friend to help him get up they both struggle to the upright
position with arms around each other for support facing the enemy...
and
the last scene is the first soldier raising an empty M-16 as the rounds
come in...
That
to me is COURAGE. Your definition is also correct but I've seen some of
the other kind.. Thanks for all you do Padre.
=======================================================
My friend and Compadre;
The soldiers you describe come under the word knowledge. They knew
that they would be killed so they stood up and faced it. That is
definitely courage because they faced it. They would have died anyway
but they chose to face it courageously and head on. For them it was
quick. The scriptures say there is no hurt in the eyes of God in the
death of his saints. Two Peace Keepers facing an enemy, holding one
another up, and holding an empty M-16 is the kind of courage that built
this nation and the only kind that will keep this nation.
I would like you to know that I believe the Apostle Paul, when he was
beheaded outside Rome, felt no pain. I would like you to know that I
believe the Ministers of Rightness (God's title for Peace Keepers) do
not feel pain as they face their enemy and stand their ground. I have
been in situations where I did not feel any pain and had amazing
strength as long as the incident was going on. I know from experience
that in the middle of battle and confrontation the body has a
marvelous
system that short circuits pain and fatigue and the one in the battle
does not experience either pain or fatigue until the battle and
confrontation are over and the danger has passed... Then there can be
fatigue sometimes to the point of pain... and if injured, the pain may
set
in also. If a Peace Keeper dies in the heat of battle and
confrontation I believe they feel no pain. They just graduate from
this life.
Peace Keepers who have been shot have said they felt no pain... They
continued to fight. Only after the fight was over and the threat had
passed did the pain come. One who comes to mind was shot in the face
with a shotgun... He kept his cool... Used his
radio to signal for help and guided the helpers to him. In one case
the officer could not speak and used radio signal carrier noise to
signal back and forth. Others have said they did not know they were
shot until they had some body part that would not work... They looked
and saw they had been shot in an arm or a leg... But they said they
felt no pain. As long as the adrenaline keeps pumping and you keep
your cool head, you can continue in the fight and survive. Some have
even stemmed severe bleeding and continued to function very well.
One who has not been there would not know this... One who has not
studied these experiences would not know this... Those who usually
fear death do not fear the dying nearly as much as they fear how they
are going to die
and the possible pain associated with it. I know from tending the
wounded and dying that it is seldom like the movies portray it. The
ones who have courage and trust in who and what they are die with
strength fighting as long as
necessary or peacefully and quietly if the battle is over and they
cannot recover... Breathing
one moment... No breath ever again the next moment.
Those who do not trust and have courage usually have
great fear and do not go quietly
unless sedated.
Those who are a Peace Keeper from the inside out are a different breed
than most other people. I have seen these special people among us of
all ages and both sexes... And they are not all professional warriors.
I have seen them in other service occupations and professions and have
seen them tending those who are
wounded, injured or ill... I have seen them as parents caring for
children with special needs. Those with courage are the ones who live
life as best they are able and do not worry. They have a faith and
trust that they are where they should be, doing what they should be
doing and nothing else matters.
They do the best they can with what they have where they are and leave
the rest to God or whomever else is responsible.
Thanks for your courage my friend. For you to befriend a clergyman you
have never seen is definitely courage.
Stay safe... Be greater blessed...
Padre
===================================================================
Since this message is for Peace Keepers and Peace
Makers I must insert that you all learn by knowledge and experience
the cost of acting in the face of danger. You learn it by education
and training. You know in advance that the consequences of certain
actions could be personally very costly.
I have known many Peace Keeper/Warriors personally. I have studied the
lives of a great many more. I have studied the personal accounts and
journals of many of them. The common trait among all of them is
courage.
They faced impossible odds. They performed feats that were and are
unbelievable. Some survived when circumstances say they should have
died. Some died when they could have stayed hidden, or they could have
run away, and lived. Some drew the enemy away so that others could
live.
Each one made a decision to act in a way that others among them did not
think to act or could not act. Each one made the decision based upon
the need of the moment. The need presented itself... And they acted.
Sometimes there was only one Peace Keeper acting... Other times there
was two or three or small groups acting on the need of the moment...
Still other times there were many acting in the need of the moment such
as the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae.
Action shows courage... I have been there... I have done it myself. I
have seen others do it. Without taking the needed action there is no
demonstration of courage.
To the common man, courage is stupid and foolhardy. To the Peace
Keeper, Public Safety personnel and heroes from all walks of life it is
just something that presented itself and they acted. Many of them will
tell you that they were tempted to be afraid and not act... Or to be
afraid and run away. Some will tell you that they could hear their
heart beat in their ears as loud as a drum. Still others say it felt
like their heart would beat itself out of their chest, it beat so hard
against their ribs.
Others had different experiences... In some there was no manifestation
of fear... There was no agitation nor rapid pulse... There was no
thought to run nor hide... There was no great inspiration... The need
presented itself and they acted because it needed doing and they could
do it.
It takes a measure of courage to take the oath that promises. "I
will...", when you do not know what a moment may bring in demand upon
you! It takes still more a measure of courage to answer a call for
service and there are few details to tell you anything except that
there is a need. Sometimes the case says, "Man with a gun..." Where
is the man with the gun when you arrive and everything is dark? You
check a license number and it come back stolen... Who is in the car?
What will they do in reaction to your actions?
Or again when the order says go from here (where it is comparatively
safe) to there... when you well know that there is danger along the
route between here and there and even more danger when you get there...
such as convoy duty in Iraq.
There is a major crash of vehicles... Great damage... People are
trapped in the vehicles... Traffic is heavy... The roadway is dark...
You must act if anyone is likely to survive... You are alone... You
act... And a speeding vehicle rams into the car from which you are
making the effort to extract the injured... The car is on you too
quickly, so quickly that you may not have even seen it... And your
graduation from this life is instantaneous...
Another wearing that same uniform must come and take care of you and
finish the job you tried to do... Courage in action by both the
departed officer and the one who must follow up and finish the job!!!
The incidents of Bravery and Courage have stretched over time and
across the world. Nations and individuals have been saved from
extinction by Bravery and Courage.
Even as I sit here writing, there are actions of Bravery and Courage
taking place all around most of us. I watch the news broadcasts and
hear of the actions... I hear the sirens and air horns and know that
those sounds are rushing to some place where Bravery and Courage will
be acted out for the needs and welfare of others. I read the
statistics from the military and know that over 4000 have given their
lives since 2003 because they were part of the military and were
assigned to places where it is an act of Bravery and Courage just to be
there... They paid the ultimate cost for being there.
A Peace Keeper takes a stand in some place where the need is great. By
taking that stand they are saying this is the line that evil will not
cross as long as I live, breathe and can fight. That stand could be in
a shooting war; in some place where there is a vital need for
protection and safety; in the fast lanes of a busy highway as a Traffic
Officer raises his hands as a barrier as he faces oncoming traffic
trying to stop it before it crashes into a previous crash and adds to
the tragedy and loss; in an embassy in some mostly unknown corner of
the world where rebels want to destroy the good and influence of these
United States and attack to kill the Marine guards and destroy all that
they protect.
Going on with life in the midst of tragedy of any kind is also
courage. A spouse decides to leave you for good while you are at work
and strips you of every possession you do not have with you... A child
goes against all that you have taught and stood for and winds up in
jail... A trusted friend causes you irreparable harm by word and
actions... You experience a financial reversal and have no choice but
to quit living or start over from nothing... A spouse, child, parent or
friend is taken in death... You are seriously injured through no fault
of your own and cannot function or work... No matter what the
circumstances against you, you rise up to the best you can muster and
go on with life as best you are able... You seek the advice and
assistance of those who have successfully passed through similar
incidents and you set your mind and life to act upon those things that
you learn that you can do. This too shall
pass... You exercise Courage and Faith...
And you go on!!!
All of this and more has happened before and will happen again... It is
called Life... Life is what happens to you while you are making plans.
If it were not for the courage of the ones whom I call Peace Keepers,
there would be no world as we know it today... and there would be no
future.
Peace Keepers, THANK YOU for who you are and for what you do...
ETERNALLY my Commander-In-Chief and I THANK YOU.
"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!" ALWAYS be alert, watchful,
suspicious and wary. Take the very best care of you as you care for
and about others. See to the strength and well being of your spirit as
well as all the rest of you. Your spirit must be strong
for you to be successful.
Call or write if I may be of any service... Or if you just want to
encourage me... Feedback encourages all who write... It helps to know
we are reaching someone who reads the message.
As it has always been... So it still is!!!
"VICTORIOUS
WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN." Sun tzu
Training and practice are everything!
Without it, the best results are not obtained!
ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE
OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL
PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!
WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as
you do your job... it means
doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all your
faculties to get
the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping or
restoring peace...
it does not mean to avoid duty and honor... it does not mean to cower
or allow anything
to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and
ethics... it means that if
the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible
in the process.
That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and
leaving the rest to God
or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and
protection of all
the things and people that we hold dear.]
I represent, write for... and give the
credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son
(the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal
Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live... with Him and for you I serve...
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or
not...
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer Virginia Beach Police Dept.,
DCJS Certified Police Instructor,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety)
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
===============================================================
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