Ed Block Courage Awards

I am sitting in my hotel room in Baltimore Maryland getting ready for The Ed Block Courage Awards.  These prestigious awards are given to one NFL player from each team who demonstrates courage, compassion, commitment and community.  What makes a person courageous?  The dictionary defines courage as the quality of mind or spirit that allows a person to face danger, difficulty or pain without fear.  However, can we really face these challenges without fear?  When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den was he without fear?  When you hear a report from the doctor that you have a terminal illness, does a courageous person face this crisis without fear?  I don't think so.  Nehemiah chapter two says "I was very much afraid, but I said to the king".  Courage is not the absence of fear.  It is the power to overcome fear.  Nehemiah spoke in spite of his fear.  Courage is the presence of mind to act in the face of paralyzing circumstances.  Nehemiah knew that the penalty for his act was death, so where did his courage come from?  I believe his courage arose from a conviction and a commitment.  A conviction that what he was doing was both right and necesarry, and a commitment to God.  He was convinced of the worthiness of his cause and the greatness of his God.  Therefore, true courage is not some arbitrary power that you can summon up any time you need it.  It is built upon the foundation of conviction, commitment and character.  And it is housed under the roof of a worthy cause.

Stop and Smell the Roses

In 1974, a singer by the name of Mac Davis, came out with a hit song entitled "Stop and Smell the Roses".  It's a song that challenges us to slow down and appreciate the things in life that really matter.  In the chorus we are encouraged to count our many blessings every day, and in the final verse it says you can almost hear the voice of God in the breeze.  Although this is a secular song it is filled with many spiritual truths.  These truths can be found in James 1:19 where it says everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.  We need to slow down enough to hear God's voice.  Every day we should set time aside to pray and read our Bibles.  We need a place where we can meet with God.  A secret place.  A place away from the sounds of the media, the voices of people, and the interuptions of life.  The Bible calls this place your closet.  It can be your backyard, your bedroom, or even a walk in the park.  Remember, you are there to listen. 

When you do speak start by saying thank you.  Counting our blessings every day is a practice we all need to get into.  Purposely disengage from the speed of light pace of life and look around at what is good.  Each of us can find dozens of things every day for which we can give thanks.  Finally, we need to be slow to get angry.  Throughout the Bible God is described as being slow to anger.  This characteristic is described as long-suffering or patience in the New Testament.  It is a fruit of the spirit that God expects his people to possess.  Patience is really not something you need to pray for.  Our fast paced life is a perfect training ground for patience.  James tells us that the trying of our faith worketh patience.  A Christian who practices a life of prayer and praise will see the trials of life in a different light.  Over time they will be able to give thanks even in these situations and the Bible promises that patience will be developed.