In our world today, there is this assumption that a person ordinarily need to be afraid of what is to come. The assumption “no one knows tomorrow” seemingly becomes true because our being is determined by what the world has to offer. Generally then, there is fear of uncertainty of what is to come even in the next minute.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me as a prisoner but share with the sufferings of the gospel, according to the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:7.
Courage in itself is the ability and willingness to confront fear, pain, uncertainty or intimidation. Physical courage is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death or the fear of death or even threat. While moral courage is the ability to act rightly in face of popular opposition, shame, scandals, or discouragement.
On the other hand, timidity is fear, fearfulness, fright. An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight). Also timidity entails the lack of self assurance courage or bravery which easily alarmed timorous shy. But the bitter truth is that man fails in this regard in the aspect of judgment between courage and timidity. Hence, there should be in our lives the predominance of courage over and above timidity. As St Paul admonishes us in his second letter to Timothy 1:7that God has given us the spirit of sound mind and not that of fear.
As seminarians therefore we should not be afraid of the future because we have a firm assurance of what the future holds by God’s power. We should be willing to confront fear as by this we are testifying to the Gospel as St. Paul says. Let us take note that nobody grows merely by the number of years; but rather we grow old by deserting our ideas. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust kills the heart and turns the spirit back into dust. Do not be afraid be courageous for God gives us a spirit not of fear but of power and self-control.
Theodore Roosevelt once asserts that; it is hard to fail but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. For the man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.
Oscar Wilde says; Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets is ones mistake.
Ellen Hopkins summarizes it by saying: Taking no chances means wasting one’s dream.
In all the big question remains: What would life be to you and me if we had no courage to attempt anything?
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