Courage

I remember sixth grade:  chilly school football games, first unrequited crush, the social gauntlet of the hallway.  I’m preparing for middle school again because my oldest child completes fifth grade this year.  What I’m thinking about as I read forms about schedules, tours, electives, and class placements is courage.   

The website I’m using for definitions, dictionary.com also lists entries from HarperCollins World English Dictionary 10^th edition.  I noticed an interesting difference when I looked at the first entry under each source. 

Dictionary.com:
1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. without fear; bravery
2.  (obsolete)  the heart as the source of emotion
3.  to act in accordance with one’s beliefs, esp. in spite of criticism.

Collins English Dictionary:
1.  the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain, etc.
2.  the confidence to act in accordance with one’s beliefs
3.  to nerve oneself to perform an action
4.  (obsolete)  mind; disposition; spirit

Is courage the ability to face daunting situations without fear or the power to deal with fear and danger and pain?  It seems odd to choose sides in a comparison of definitions, but I’m going with Collins on this one.  My instinct says there will always be fear, but in the meeting of things despite fear, we find courage.  Courage permits us to confront uncertainties, difficulties or dangers even while in possession of dread or panic or nerves.  Certainly a soldier cannot enter into battle without fear.  Firefighters and EMT’s save lives every day by facing danger and fear.  These honorable callings put people who choose these careers in constant use of courage.  But, even in less life threatening daily personal activities we need courage.  We cannot face a tough interview without fear but with nerve to perform.  Despite trepidation we can teach difficult students, choose to answer truthfully personal questions, leave an unhealthy relationship, move to another state because we have the quality of dealing with or facing the risk, fear, or pain.  A parent can enter into middle school again vicariously through a child with some small bit of fear and optimistic courage!

Another tidbit I loved in the Online Etymology Dictionary was the origin of the word “courage” from Latin cor (“heart”).  It feels right that the origins of courage are in the heart, a place also named as a source for love.  Perhaps the roots of courage are in love – healthy self-love that teaches us we are worthy, strong and capable.  Deep within ourselves we find the ability to act in confident accordance with our beliefs in spite of criticism and power to deal with life’s difficulties bravely.