Dragon Slayer

* * * COURAGE * * *

"The ability to conquer fear or despair."

The Saints of the world historically had one entity and substance quality . . . "Courage", the action by principle, to do what a man rightfully should do despite personal consequences. This character trait was shared by each of them.

Courage is a universal virtue, yet comprehended by few, and acted on by even less. The universal need for courage is at a peak in our society, for the world's people look to those with courage for example and guidance. Courage is not doing what seems right, yet doing what we morally know is right.

Understanding is virtue, thus knowledge is virtue. Discipline in direction of truth takes action of learning and the bending of ones will in reason and passion. Passion is a mental and spiritual growth motivator. Passion without axiom reason is blind, thus full knowledge is reasonable integrity. Courage and truth cannot be separated; one needs the other to operate towards God's Law.

Every age but ours has had its model, it's ideal. All of these have been given up by our culture: the Holy Saint; the Valor of the Hero; the Beloved King; the well mannered Gentleman; the chivalrous Knight; the inspiring Mystic. About all we have left is the conforming, well-adjusted Man without problems, yet this is a very pale and doubtful substitute.

The current Rulers in our society have purged courage from most types of education, replacing it with a new political agenda mores called "looking out for #1", "pleasing self", and the newly formed "instant gratification society."

The courage within life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; yet it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. A man does what he must in spite of personal consequences, in spite of the obstacles, the dangers, and pressures; yet, this is the basis of all human morality.

To be courageous requires no exceptional qualifications, no magic formula, no special combination of time, or circumstance. It is an opportunity that is presented to us during our course in life. One may meet the challenge of courage, with whatever may be the sacrifices he faces, and yes, if he follows his conscience he may loose his friends, his fortune, his contentment and even the esteem of his fellow men, yet in free will man makes this choice.

The stories of past courage can define its ingredients, they can teach, and they can offer inspiration, yet they cannot supply courage itself. Man must look into his own soul, and restore the fires of virtue, i.e.: Truth, Love and Freedom, the axiom of life's being and giving purpose.

In courage, with Divine Providence, man's identity needs ignited the creation of the Declaration of Independence which dominantly imbued the axiom reason for Our Constitutions and Bill of Rights, thus inferring, that the quantum discipline socially prevailing, in Truth, Love and Freedom, premises the attainable level of physical, mental, and spiritual health within any civilization.

By Karl G. (Bacon) Granse 1988