Character First! defines courage as “overcoming fear by saying and doing what is right.”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”

Courage is neutral, all by itself. It is a double-edged sword. Right requires courage, but some huge wrongs have been the result of courageous acts, too. It takes courage to break the law. Courage needs a moral guide. Courage without character creates bullies and criminals.

Courage lubricates and propels character. Fortunately, courage is contagious, but so is fear. When we choose courage, we say no to fear. Even in our current world of racial tension and social fear, courage transfers from one person to another. A community without courage will not be a community of character. Every character trait requires courage in a broken world.

Most often, fear isn’t the only enemy of courage. Fear is a liar, as the song says, and fear often disguises itself as apathy, comfort, laziness, selfishness, sarcasm, criticism, passivity, or carelessness. Because we’re broken and selfish, we often choose easy over best. No one wants to be part of a community of fear. A courageous community produces grace, peace, and prosperity.

Years ago, a young man and woman found out they were pregnant, but not married. The man or woman could have easily chosen to move on. But not this man and woman. They stayed together, the man working 3 jobs and working his way through 7 years of college to provide for the new family. There was much to learn about being a mom and dad. Yet this couple persisted for 57 years of marriage, until my dad passed away from complications from dementia in 2015.

Often, we look for stories of courage in heroic and daring acts. But courage is showing up, choosing to be a person of character, and making a sacrifice for a city of character. Courage acts as a first responder, a caregiver, or a teacher. Courage keeps a business open during these times. Courage refuses to compromise. Sometimes courage gives away a kind word or stands up for what is right. It shows up for work instead of giving up.  Courage forms the life blood of a community of character when we put others ahead of ourselves.

Every good choice requires courage. Let’s be a people who share courage for right choices and right actions in our community. Our courage will continue to build a community of character.