But when a man desires with all his heart to live, and dares death for a cause he considers just, that is courage that surpasses the physical and enters the realm of the spiritual. Israel’s great king, David, displayed the highest type of spiritual courage when he went out against the Philistine giant, Goliath. This was not a mere physical courage. If David had trusted in his own prowess, he would have been a fool:a lad of no stature against a vet eran fighter of great size, a s l i n g against sword, spear and shield; it would have been suicide. A good big man can always defeat a good little man. But David said to his towering foe, (Continued on Page 18)
Are You Bold Enough to be Afraid?
By LeRoy Allen
T HE fiercest battles ever fought have been waged by men in soli tude. Man’s greatest struggles are with himself — the eternal warfare be tween the body and the soul, the flesh and the spirit. Physical bravery has its reward in the admiration of man, but moral courage is often evidenced by a negative policy, by refusing to do that which the conscience insists is wrong. Exactly what is courage? It is not inherited; it is not even necessarily a part of character. A correspondent of the recent war declared: “ Courage is not like a fixed star, unchangeable, immuta ble, but is like the temperature of the human body, which goes up and down.” There are many causes for a sudden show of courage in a person. The in stinct of self-preservation is one. The “ cornered rat” is the descriptive byword of desperate ferocity. The mother in stinct is another: an ordinarily timid woman will fight like a tigress for her endangered children. But then, courage is not synonymous with boldness. A bold man is aggressive, assertive, never hesi tant about “ standing up for his rights.” Courage, on the other hand, is an attrib ute that actually may be unsuspected in a person until the need for its expres sion arises. Courage is not bravado. A man can put up a good pretense of being coura geous when really he is only “whistling in the dark.” This is the mark of the bully, who tries to cover up his feeling of inferiority by attacking smaller and weaker boys. Neither can the man be called brave who is ignorant of danger. The most timid eastern tenderfoot may mount a western broncho, believing him to be gentle. But only a courageous man after being thrown, will pick himself up and climb back into the saddle. A story is told of Napoleon who on one occasion was standing by the roadside watching his troops move for ward to the battle. Along came a strap ping sergeant, marching along as if on parade, with arrogant and swaggering stride. One of Napoleon’s aides remarked what a fine picture of a soldier he was, and what a fierce warrior he must be. In the same column walked a small drummer boy, who plainly showed fear; he was trembling and pale. But he beat a steady rhythm, and his steps kept pace with the others. Napoleon pointed to him and said, “ There is bravery. No man can be called brave who does not know the meaning of fear. But a man of courage is he who knows fear, and overcomes it.” The kind of courage that produces ci tations, medals and title of “hero” is physical courage, and that is the kind the war correspondent had in mind. It will flame white-hot or flicker out en- APR I L , 1948
tirely according to the mental and phys ical condition of the soldier. This is the kind that keeps the guns firing on a sinking ship, that sends an army “over the top” without hesitation, and causes another army to stand fast to meet their bayonets. Yet, courage is not mere reck lessness. Any fool can be careless. If one’s life is of no value to him, it is not a mark of bravery to expose it to risk.
Ain Arrub, site of the proposed, health-giving tuberculosis sanatorium, with Dr. Thomas A. Lambie, Missionary to Pales tine. He writes: “Modern Bethlehem (inset) is still a sweet little town.”
Sh e îïa lte ij o f äüooom ij! A modern tuberculosis sanato rium in the very Valley of Berachah — what earnest Christian does not thrill at the thought! O f King Je- hoshaphat’s victorious hosts it is written (2 Chron. 20: 26 :) “ They assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, the valley of Berachah unto this day.”
the famous Government Springs captured by General Allenby during World War I. The larger structure, just beyond and near the base of the hill is Dr. Lambie’s present clinic. The remainder of the property lies in two parts, one up the hill, and a smaller tract a little to the left— about 8l/% acres in all. Excepting for one hospital at Gaza, there are no other mission aries between Bethlehem and Egypt or Arabia. Practically nothing is being done for the poor sufferers from this awful disease. After united prayer, the Board feels moved to say with God’s people in Nehemiah’s time: “ Let us rise up and build.”
The Lord has already enabled us to obtain, between Bethlehem and HebrQn, one of the best sites in Pal estine. W ell watered and conveni ently located, yet away from the con gestion of a big city. The view above shows our property. The small build ing in the center foreground marks
What a precious opportunity again to bring both spiritual and physical health to the very land where Jesus Himself once walked with healing touchl For further particulars, please correspond direct with the General Secretary.
f or P R E S B Y T E R I AN F OR E I GN M I S S I O N S
IT, e Independent Board
151-K Maplewood Ave.
Philadelphia 44, Pa., U.S.A.
Page Thirteen
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