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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

What is true spiritual courage?

Well, it's been a few months since I went skydiving. I've had people tell me that it took a lot of courage to do that. Although behind my back they are probably saying it took a lot of stupidity!

Courage in our culture is connected with taking risks.

Jumping the Grand Canyon on a motorcycle, coming over Niagara Falls in a barrel, walking on a tightrope between skyscrapers, or crossing the ocean in a rowboat are called courageous acts because people risk their lives by doing these things.

But I would suggest to you that none of these dare-devil acts comes form the center of who we are. They all come from the desire to test our physical limits and fulfill some innate desire to feel the "thrill" of what we are doing or gaining fame and popularity.

But spiritual courage is different. It is following the deepest desires of our hearts at the risk of losing fame and popularity. It is the willingness to lose what is temporary in order to gain what is eternal - eternal life.

Now that's courage.

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