Eremophila’s Musings

Courage: also known as bravery, will and fortitude, is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. (Wikipedia)
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

(Eleanor Roosevelt)

Courage is when one follows the heart despite what the head is saying. It is like a muscle one builds up by regular use. It’s not necessarily the marathon which builds it up, as the small steps which takes one into new territory.

Today I wish to acknowledge the courage of a friend, who spent a week with me, taking those steps. A country lifestyle is a very different experience for some-one who has barely been out of the city. Even turning on a tap for water can be different! Then there are the myriad of insects, reptiles, birds and animals, which seem wild and unpredictable if you’ve never seen them before. Walking with a horse is commonplace for me, but a challenge to those not accustomed to a large animal walking alongside. Add to that, walking in the dark, without a torch, just using the moonlight, in an unfamiliar land. That takes courage! To go walking in the bush, with no paths, no signs, to be willing to lead the way despite the fears - again, courage.

My own experience has been that when I tackle on the physical plane, something that scares me, I am better able to tackle something on the emotional/mental plane that needs examining. I may need to spend some time wrestling with it, and courage is what I call upon then. This is an example of a different way of using courage, that is not so obvious to others.

So to the Jewel, I say thank you, for allowing me to witness your courage and growth. It has been a privilege to walk this part of the journey with you.