Bravery has been on my mind this week. I pondered it last weekend when thinking of missionaries and St. Patrick. It has lingered in my mind all week- in a dream about Joan of Arc, and then references to Joan have popped up intermittently all week. So I took the nudge and looked up why people pray to Joan of Arc. She is the patron saint of France, soldiers, prisoners, and those who need courage among others.
I always enjoyed teaching French history and art. The stories are so twisty and odd, that you couldn’t make them up if you tried! History is way more scandalous than TV and perhaps I hooked a few students with the (un)believable tales of a teenage girl who lead and army and helped turn the tide of a war.
I certainly admire her bravery. History note if you don’t know the story- Joan gets captured and put on trial for heresy and witchcraft. She’s in prison for a year, has a very tricky “trial”, and gets burned at the stake. In the midst of all that, she has one moment where her faith waivers. Fun fact- her trial is well documented and you read all about it but I digress.
Joan of Arc? Guided by divine voices and certainly brave. Bravery shows up in some common and unlikely places. First responders, our military personnel, teachers- brave. Each day, sometimes moment to moment, there are situations that could take a quick turn and end badly. And they show up. Every day.
Bravery can have the face of a child who is a cancer survivor and who uses that experience to encourage others. It’s a single parent who is run ragged working and making a life for their kid(s). It’s adult kids caring for aging parents, or parents caring for adults with special needs.
Bravery is also…going on your first job interview (or the first in a long time). Meeting new people and having new experiences. It’s leaving your home/friends/comfort zone to live in another country. It’s the courage to start a company, a family, leaving a job, or even just be who you are.
The reason for bravery takes different forms for different people – from a divine force, a sense of duty to protect others, or doing what’s right. God is directing our steps in so many ways. Take a look around your family/circle of friends. Who would you call “brave”? Is it you?
