Unseen Courage

If we could see what was going on underneath the surface of each other’s lives, we would be stunned at how much courage we exercise each day. Action packed movies with their unstoppable heroines and heroes impress upon us that courage is a bold, unstoppable and rare trait. They run through burning buildings and dodge a hail of bullets to rescue others, for the sake of the mission.

I don’t think these fantasies tell the real story of courage. When I think of courage, I think of several people I know who are this minute facing down all of their fears to go through chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries in order to keep living their journey. They have children, spouses or beloved pets in their lives, and while they are tempted to give up and drift away from this life, they find a way to take the next step. Courage.

I have known high school students whose parents are missing or so involved in working multiple jobs to keep life and limb together that the teens become the virtual adults at home. They cook, clean, drive and work part-time jobs.  They care for younger siblings, while doing their own studies, playing on sports teams or in the band all on about 4 hours of sleep per night. Some have left high school to care for a dying parent. They’d rather just be teenagers, and yet, they find a way to get up today and do the work of several adults. Courage.

Most of us face some struggle today, large or small. We’d rather not. But something inside of us calls us forward. It might be the ones we love. It might be a sense of purpose not yet complete. It might just be an irritation that this thing is not going to derail us. It’s called courage. It’s all the unseen ways that we find to do our heart.  Whatever it is for you, today, you’ve got this. Do your heart today.  And know that you are surrounded by a community of people doing the same, even if you can’t see it.

~Bob Patrick

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3 Responses to Unseen Courage

  1. Peggy A says:

    Love these inspiring words!

  2. Jen Garrison says:

    Thank you for this description of true courage and for the encouragement!

  3. Katrina says:

    I’m glad to see courage through your eyes. Your experience as a teacher and knowing your students challenges on a daily basis is so VERY REAL but not visible or tangible.
    Teachers are put in a place where they have to maintain professional distance, but once you know a students heartache, poverty and family discord it is extremely hard not to get involved or take a personal interest. Teachers have to grade all students alike. They have to see the students on an equal scale, they have to respond fairly. I don’t know of any other profession that is so broad in scale. It puts Courage at front and center in each classroom and in the heart of being and educator. !

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