The Colors of Courage

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