Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-07-15
True Courage

" THAT is courage? Many people
"like to be considered brave, but
there is difference between
mere physical bravery and true cour-
age. Alexander Pope, the renowned
English poet, gives his concept of
brave man in these words: "a brave
man thinks no one his superior who
does him an injury; for he has 1t
then in his power to make himself
superior to the other by forgiving it,
Oftentimes it takes courage to for
give an injury, but If the sense of
forgiveness should be overshadowed
by belief in ones own superiority,
the act of forgiving could in no wise
be termed courageous. 1t certainly
would fall far short of the standard
set by Christ Jesus, who said (Mat-
thew 5:44), "Love your enemies
bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and
prosecute you" This admonition
calls for true courage. for it requires
humility and selfessness to meet its
requirements.
Christ Jesus was the most courage
because he was the meekest and most
or do what he knew to be right, and
prompted by unsettled love. He re-
buked sinners unhesitatingly, and he
sacrificed his human sense of life to
show them the way of salvation. His
ministry of healing and teaching
90 l.. oil t1Ho ~
selfless devotion to burdened and
suffering humanity He was abso-
lutely convinced Of the truth of all
that he said and taught, and neither
threats nor efforts to destroy him
could swerve him from his convic-
lions or make him fearful. He urged
his followers to do as he did, and
thereby earned the hatred of selfish
materialists. He knew, however, that
Unreasonable blessings would flow
to all who should courageously and
understandingly obey his admoni-
tions.
In the world today there are many
millions Of protested Christians, but
alas, too much diversity of opinion
concerning the teachings and works
OF the master Christian Why should
this be SO when Jesus so clearly map
ped out the course to be taken by his
true followers? They were to do the
works that he did-works of healing
as we'll as regenerating; they were
TO practice self-denial; they were to
promote love and peace throuSlout
the world; and they were in all cir
eumstances to put their trust, not IN
material things, but in God And,
said he Matthew 7:20), "Ry their
truits''-their eomplishments along
such lines-"ye shall know them"
Courage of the right sort is sorely
needed In the world today, the moral
courage to subdue self, to be hum
BILE, pure-minded, free from resent
ment, ready to return good for evil.
Such courage Is a rebuke to animal
courage, of which there is a super
duty. Concerning this, the Discov-
erer and Founder of Christian Sci
ence, Mary Baker Eddy, states in
Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures" Opp. %, 29): There is
too much animal courage in society
and not sufficient moral courage.
Christians must take up arms against
error at home and abroad. They must
erapple with sin in themselves and
in others, and continue this warfare
until they have finished their course.
If they keep the faith, they will have
the crown of rejoicing"
This much to = be desired crown
should not be considered as some
thing to be hoped for in some future
existence, but as Joyous sense Of
harmony and spiritual dominion to
be striven for and attained here and
now. It requires real courage to win
and wear this crown, courage 70
stand firmly on the side of Principle
against selfish desires, and oftentimes
against the SCOTS Of sinners. :.
There Is nothing more ennobling
than courageously forsaking material
beliefs for spiritual understanding,
for this transition requires humility
and unsettled love. Also, 1t affords
deep satisfaction to know that what
ever is accomplished through courage
born of unsettled love, blesses not
only the individuals directly con-
cerned, but, In some degree, all man
kind as well.-The Chrtstian Science
keniteS,