MasonicMinute.com
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Posted at: 10:07 am Of all the values and traits addressed in our Ritual, the most neglected…and one of the most important is Courage. The strength to make change, the strength to say no…the strength to stand-up and be a man…these are the things that make leaders. The underlying characteristic required here is Courage. I do not wish to imply that rashness or irrationality are what is necessary. Sometimes it takes a lot of guts to keep your mouth shut. But in the world we know as Freemasonry, there are numerous situations where friendships must be challenged. It takes Courage to do this. It takes Courage to tell a good friend that he is not ready to perform this or that task. It takes Courage to hold a position contrary to those of your father-in-law…or brother…in Lodge. It takes Courage to stand for what is right when others clamor for what is easy. It is through Courage that positive progression is achievable. It is with internal fortitude, dedication and follow-through that the small tasks build upon each other, and eventually the large projects are complete. Without these, there are no achievements…there is no learning…we have no Masonry. It is a theme that has been addressed time and time again on this site, and will be recurring as time marches on. But there is a certain kind of comfort knowing that Courage is not something that we all have in isolation. In fact, most Courage is coupled with support from one or two true friends, willing to stand at your side through thick and thin. The truest test, however, is having the Courage to tell even these close friends when they are falling short. That is something we ALL need to work on. |
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February 20, 2008
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This may seem frivolous, but it isn’t meant to be: In superhero comic books, it isn’t the superhero who is the really heroic figure. It is the villain. In these books, the villain, no matter how often he is defeated, and in the face of a being who can’t possibly be beaten, always tries again. The villain comes back and strives to win against all odds.
The superhero is not a hero at all. If you can’t fail, there is no heroism. If there is no chance that there is nothing there, there is no faith. I recommend Bro. Rudyard Kipling’s Poem “If” for a discussion of this phenomenon.
Comment by Steve — February 20, 2008 @ 11:36 am
Having Courage and being a Hero are two different things. Some people commit ‘heroic’ acts without having a second to think about the consequences.
Courage, on the other hand, manifests itself in the face of a rational internal assesment of the risks of that courageous act. It can be easy to be a hero…but courage, after thoughtful reflection on the dificulty of the act, is far more powerful.
Comment by AEdifico — February 20, 2008 @ 11:57 am