Courage

I heard something yesterday that struck me. I was watching a youtube video where a coach was trying to get his athlete to drop under the bar on a snatch aggressively. The athlete was having trouble committing, as many newer athletes do. "You just have to be fearless!" says the coach. As I thought about this, I decided that I couldn't disagree more.

Nate the great, scared of nothin'!

There are only two fears that humans are born with- falling, and loud noises. Take a look at babies; they aren't scared of monsters, guns, the dark, or any of the other things that make many of us shudder. That means that all of our fears, aside from falling and loud noises, are learned fears. Somewhere along the road of life, we were either taught by someone or some experience that there are things worth being afraid of.

What this means is that we have to rethink what we do with fear. There is no such thing as being fearless- it is not as simple as just automatically being unafraid of the thing that terrifies you. Instead, we must take that fear and decide that we will not be controlled by it. This is the heart of courage. According to Websters, courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Courage is looking fear in the face and not allowing it do dictate what you do, but rather heading straight into the things that makes you most afraid. What makes you a man is not your lack of fear, but rather your courage in the face of fear. We see this in Christ our Lord on the night of his betrayal.

"And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.' .... And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."(Luke 22: 41-44). What Jesus was experiencing was fear and anxiety so great that it literally caused his blood vessels to rupture. In the medical world, this phenomenon is called hematidrosis, and is a rare condition that may occur when a person is suffering extreme levels of stress. Was Jesus fearless? Absolutely not! He was experiencing great levels of fear, but he did not let this fear rule him. He knew what his mission was, and chose to look that fear in the eye and move forward and "endure the cross, despising the shame for the joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2). At any point he could have opted out. He was not forced to die; he said himself that "no one takes my life, but I lay it down voluntarily" (John 10:18). Courage is what allowed Jesus to press on.

We see this also in Paul. This is how he can continue to profess Christ even while being beaten. "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." (Philippians 1:20).

There are many areas of our life that we need courage. Maybe it's courage to drop under a bar. Maybe it's courage to do the right thing, even if the right thing is hard or socially awkward. Maybe it's courage to keep fighting for a dying marriage. Maybe it's courage to stand up for someone who can't stand up for themselves. Whatever it is, take courage in knowing that "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness (and fear), but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 15-16)

One of my favorite lifters, a courageous fellow indeed.

Be strong and courageous.
Blessings.