Courage

*** I wrote this article last year, but I wanted to post it on the blog.

A Texas billionaire hosted a sumptuous feast on his 1,500 acre property outside of Dallas. He took his guests for a complete tour of his land, horse stables, and mansion. As he came to the end of the tour, the guests were ushered to the back of the mansion to plush lawns sporting beautifully landscaped scenes and a giant swimming pool, the likes of which none of them had seen before. However, after closer review, the guests noticed that the glistening pool was filled with huge alligators. “Why do you have a pool full of alligators?” one of the shocked guests asked.
“It takes courage to make your mark in this world,” answered the billionaire. “So I keep this pool of alligators on my property as a sign of what courage really is. In fact I tell all of my guests, anyone who has enough guts to jump in the pool and swim safely from one side to the other shall be entitled to half of my fortune and to my only daughter as his wife.”
The guests began to laugh until suddenly they heard a splash. All eyes became fixed on a young man swimming in the pool. Incredibly, he made it across to the other side and got out.
“I’m impressed,” said the billionaire. “Son, you are entitled to half my fortune and my only daughter as your wife.”
Wet from head to toe and bleeding from minor scratches, the young man replied, “Sir, you can keep your fortune and your daughter. What I want to know is: Who pushed me in?!” *
Some of the greatest men and women of the Bible never asked to jump into the waters of courage. It simply was thrust upon them (they were pushed in, so to speak). And amazingly, with God’s guidance, these men and women were able to do extraordinary things, things some people even thought impossible. Maybe God will one day call you to do something courageous, something that takes great faith. If that day comes, have faith and do what he calls you to do, and trust that he will empower you to do what needs to be done.

*Story found in Gary LaFerla's book Finding Your Way