Conference Minister's Corner 7.7.26

Conference Minister’s Corner

Conference Minister, Gordon Rankin, 7.7.26

One morning watch last week at Horton Center, I had a fascinating conversation with a group of middle school students about bravery and courage. We were discussing the biblical story of Queen Esther. You may recall that Esther was asked by her cousin, Mordecai, to speak up for the imperiled Jewish community. Mordecai even suggested that perhaps Esther rose to her royal position for “just such a time as this." Esther, knowing that it was illegal to speak to the King unless summoned, said she would take the request to spare her people to him, “and if I die, I die." 

After we heard the story of Queen Esther during our Morning Watch, we were invited to discuss with those on the bench with us our understandings of bravery and courage. I learned something from the middle schoolers I sat with. I guess I had always thought of bravery and courage as synonyms. But that is not the way they thought of it.

They explained that to them bravery is doing what is right in a certain situation despite the potential consequences. But courage…courage is choosing to be brave in all moments, not just one moment. It is living a lifestyle where you choose to be brave no matter what you are facing. I am still pondering this distinction, but it sure has inspired me.

And I have found that the distinction these middle school campers made between bravery and courage has changed my prayers.I now find myself praying that we all may find our own inner gift of courage so that we may be brave in all the times and all the places that God needs us to be brave. 

Gordon