Can You Be Brave?

What comes to mind when you think of bravery? 

For me, it’s scenes from various movies. The army who charges into battle, the guy who finally asks the girl to the dance, the superhero who decides to use his or her powers for the good of others, and obviously a bunch more. 

But what if the question was asked this way… What comes to mind when you think of moments YOU have been brave? 

What did you come up with? Did any memories come to mind? I think a major downside to entertainment is we get caught up living vicariously through the stories of others while forgetting to live out our own. 

A few weeks ago my sister and I were catching up over the phone. We discussed recent experiences, lessons we’re learning, and things we are still trying to figure out.

* She just turned 25 by the way so shout out to Avery! Happy Birthday sis!!! *

Avery reminded me of a night, years ago, when we went late-night cliff jumping in the backwoods of North Carolina with two friends and a total stranger (our cliff jumping expert and impromptu guide for the night). It may not have been the safest of choices, but it did turn into an incredible memory. 

The rest of us had already taken the plunge and now it was Avery’s turn. When she approached the edge and saw the 30-foot drop, she instantly became acquainted with the part inside you that wants to avoid danger at all cost. If you’ve ever been cliff jumping you know what I’m talking about. Unless of course you’re one of those wild people who feed off the rush of these exact moments. 

As my sister stared at the gap between her feet and the dark water, the lady who was acting as our local, backwoods guide kindly asked, 

“Avery, can you be brave?” 

Until a few weeks ago, I had never heard this part of the story but it has since captured me. So much so, I have taken the question and made it personal, “Connor, can you be brave?” 

I so want my answer to be Yes! YES I CAN BE BRAVE! But internally I’m afraid. I’m afraid I won’t have what it takes to jump. Or worse, I’m afraid I would just stand rooted to the ground, paralyzed by indecision while others around me choose to take the risk. 

I think deep down everyone craves a moment, or moments where we get to prove to ourselves we can indeed be brave. Unfortunately, in our world of comfort, those moments are fewer and further between. We become disconnected from life’s exhilaration and our own purpose / identity because we simply don’t have the opportunities to see what we’re made of. 

Step Up To The Cliff.

If opportunities to be brave are no longer coming to us naturally, then we must take ownership. It’s time to push, get creative, and surround ourselves with people who are going to call new things out of our character and heart. Break your routine. Say yes to moments that take you outside your comfort zone until you find yourself standing on the edge of something that both scares and excites you. Something that gives you the chance to be brave. 

So what is your cliff? What is it that would make you so proud of yourself if you had the courage to jump? 

* read the last line again and actually think about it *

Since we started this blog talking about movies, we might as well end with one of my favorite quotes. It comes from Braveheart (classic) where young William Wallace has an encounter with his father in a dream. In the scene, Wallace’s father turns to his young son, looks him in the eye, and delivers a line that will stick with me forever.

“Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it.”

Our moments of following our heart and being brave might not look like William Wallace’s. In fact, it for sure won’t! If you haven’t seen the movie I won’t spoil it, but let’s just praise God we don’t have to walk into a battle where someone might literally chop off our arm with a 13th century battle axe. 

No, our moments and opportunities will look different. They do however exist. The question is, will we have the courage to track them down? Will we give ourselves opportunities to follow the thing God instilled deep inside of us even if it leads us to a random, scary cliff in North Carolina?

I watched from the water all those years ago when my sister chose to jump. I remember being so excited for and proud of her. She now has a story to tell and a means of inspiring others. An unusual yes, a willingness to follow her sense of adventure, a kind stranger, and an inspiring question helped her discover something so incredibly valuable. 

Now it’s your turn. Can you be brave?