The Colors of Courage
“…and if I perish, I perish.” Queen
Esther (Esther 4:16)
“Courage is being scared to death
but saddling up anyway.” John Wayne
When
Glenn Cunningham was eight, his legs were badly burned in a horrific
schoolhouse explosion that killed his brother and left him nearly crippled.
Though his parents refused the doctor’s recommendation to amputate both legs,
Glenn had lost all the flesh on his knees and shin and all the toes on his left
foot. Two years would pass before he would attempt to take a step.
Despite
excruciating pain, young Glenn became determined that he would walk again. Then
he discovered that it didn’t hurt as badly when he ran, so he began to run
everywhere. Despite his heavily scarred legs, he could soon outrun everyone in
his age group. He went on to set a national track record in high school, broke
more records in college, competed in the Olympics and set numerous world
records. Glenn’s courage and will to overcome debilitating injuries were
inspired by his favorite scripture, Isa. 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
While
competing in the Olympics, Cunningham crossed paths with another quick and
agile record-setting runner, Louie Zamperini. But World War II intervened, and
Louie joined the army as a bombardier. While over the Pacific, their plane
engine failed, sending Louie and his crewmates plunging into the ocean. Only
two men and Louie managed to drag themselves onto a small rubber raft equipped
only with bitter chocolate and several pints of water, a flare gun, and a few paltry
tools. No one knew where they were as the raft drifted aimlessly over the vast
ocean.
Louie
and Phil, the pilot, fought panic by focusing on survival and problem solving.
Louie devised creative ways to capture rainwater, birds, and fish. Phil, though
badly injured, kept his mind sharp by engaging Louie in continual conversation
about a wide range of topics. Their favorite topic was food, and while
starvation and dehydration emaciated their bodies, somehow their minds found
comfort in discussing recipes. The third man didn’t fair as well. Nearly
catatonic with fear and despair, he eventually succumbed as much to
hopelessness as his injuries.
Attacked
repeatedly by hungry sharks, strafed by a Japanese warplane, and blown about by
a typhoon, Louie and Phil hung on for 47 days in the raft. Though he’d never
prayed before, Louie learned to pray as the raft floated an amazing two
thousand miles to land, where the exhausted men crawled ashore and were picked
up by the Japanese Navy.
Are
you facing a frightening situation with the odds stacked hopelessly against
you? Courage is not found in the absence of fear but in the presence of God.
Fear holds us back from meeting difficulty; courage gives us the confidence to
look even death in the eye with calmness and assurance. Courage is trusting God
with the outcome, even when it is not certain.
“When
I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.” Psa. 56:3
