Original: 11/21/02
20 David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. 21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command." 1 Chronicles 28:20-21
I love the new sayings teens teach me. Having all three Ramos boys in my program is a special honor for me and they keep me up on the latest trends, fashions and music. Last spring, during Spring Football, James actually yelled at me from where the varsity guys were practicing to pull my shirt out of my sweat bottoms and unzip the bottom of my sweats!
James’ recent saying came after a hard day in the weight room. Exhausted he said, “Dad. I did work in the weight room today.”
This of course comes with the two fist pumps to the chest. Oh and the fist has to be palm on towards the chest or it is all wrong! I did the thumbs-to-chest fist pump and was reprimanded!
Do work. Courage does work. Courage is action.
It is not a couch potato. It does not hide in the office. It does not sit in a pew. It will not go with the flow. It cannot drift aimlessly with the crowd. Courage is a coarse piece of sandpaper rubbing against the grain. Courage is the manifestation of a new day. Courage is the birthplace of change.
Action-less courage is the act of fear. Courage moves forward without excuse. Fear searches to justify its immobility. Many experience feelings of fear but fear does not become cowardice until we fail to act. Even the most frightened of men become heroes by their actions.
Courage does work, fear does nothing.
Courage rises up against fear. Courage shouts, “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest… (Proverbs 6:9-10)”
Courage throws a rebellious fist in the face of fear. Courage is fear in action. A man cannot be a man of courage without being a man of action. Action and courage are two sides of the same coin. Courage is contingent upon action. Even more, no matter how courageous a man seems to be, he becomes a coward the longer he procrastinates. The longer we delay through procrastination the stronger the grip of fear tightens around the neck of courage.
