Sentinel Watch January 9, 2012 Issue

Take a stand with moral courage

Martha Sarvis

Corky Sarvis

Lately, as I’ve been looking at various situations in the world and in my own country, I’ve been thinking about courage—specifically, moral courage. This is the type of courage that remains undisturbed and helps us to be steadfast in the face of adversity. Unlike animal courage, which lashes out in fear and sometimes violence, moral courage enables us to address problems with persistence and an inner peace. Individuals and leaders of nations throughout the world are in need of moral courage to make choices that will benefit all. 

I had an experience recently on a small scale that gave me a better understanding of moral courage. I was working with a group of people on a project. One of the individuals had a very strong personality and seemed to be forcing her ideas on everyone else. This bothered me, and at one point I spoke up in a way that exhibited animal courage. 

Immediately on the heels of this outburst the thought came: This is not the way to solve this problem, moral courage is the way. This idea felt like such a blessing. It was a gentle rebuke, like a parent to a child who has strayed down the wrong path. My thought changed completely. I apologized and we moved forward, but this time I could listen to her ideas with a greater sense of peace and dominion. I could hear the good being expressed and separate it from the forceful attitude. 