Overcoming Obstacles to Truth

Courage is the beginning to overcome obstacles to living a life of truth. Just like truth, courage has been spoken of so often, that the multiplicity of its usage dilutes and confuses its meaning. In addition to the physical courage that is the traditional usage of the word, there is a higher transcendent usage of courage. A wise Greek once said that it is more courageous to vanguish one's self, than it is to vanguish a whole army. Another said, "To thy own self be true." Just as not many can live up to the latter, few can live up to the former. The courage to put aside one's old habits and explore new and unfamiliar territories, the courage to put aside one's own preconceptions of the world, the universe, and explore the possible validity of new ideas, new understanding of life, these are the sources of strength that allow the weakest among us to overcome obstacles that stopped the most valiant among us. Christ asked us to give up our own lives to follow in the example of his life. It can interpreted as the literal sacrifice of our physical lives, or a higher meaning of giving up our old self, and embrace the new, as in the parable of the old wine in the new bottle. Until we are willing to give up the old comfortable familiar preconceptions of truth, we can never embrace the new understanding that will free us from the past.

Part of the courage is also to be humble, to give up our sense of identity, our sense of achievement, our sense of knowing who we are, and accept a new definition, a new identity, a new future, as children do everyday. Christ asked us to be born again, precisely because we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven carrying the past. To be born again is to be dead of the past. It is always a frightening moment, to let go, before getting a new hand hold. Faith is to believe in the existence in spite of a lack of evidence. Courage is to do what is necessary in spite of the fear and terror. Wisdom is to know the difference between blind faith, and foolish courage. I recall a favorite saying, or perhaps prayer:

Grant me the courage to change what I can change.

Grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change.

Grant me the wisdom to know the difference.

To have courage, serenity, and wisdom everyday is to be blessed.