Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.
Maya Angelou
Bryce Courtenay was certainly onto something when he wrote The Power of One. There’s something significant about someone having a vision for their life and sticking to it. There’s power in a story about the one.
During the Syrian civil war, millions of people have been displaced, many thousands killed or killed, and yet it continues. When we read the numbers, it’s overwhelming, for a few seconds. Then, we flick onto the next dog video or channel or check how many likes we got on our last post.
When three-year-old boy, Alan Kurdi, one of at least twelve drowned Syrians attempting to reach safety, was found lying face-down on a beach, the photo impacted the world like none of the previous reports.
I don’t know what it’s like to have to run from my home to seek safe refuge. I don’t know what it’s like to lose a child. But, the stories that people tell of the one, bring messages home to me.
The power of one is an ancient story pattern, Jesus left the ninety-nine sheep to seek out the lost one. The power of one is palpable.
There’s also the power of one in my life. In your life.
Each one of us has a story to tell. A life to live. In each one of us, the power of one is a mighty force.
You know how every once in a while you do something and the little voice inside says, ‘There. That’s it. That’s why you’re here.’ … and you get a warm glow in your heart because you know it’s true? Do more of that. Jacob Nordby
Every day, we are called to have courage. To use the power of one. If we have a belief in God or have a values system that encourages us to look outside of ourselves, we are called to live our lives in such a way that honours the gifts, abilities, and calling that are sown in us.
That takes courage.
As a writer, I am called to encourage others, to tell stories, to make the power of one come into being through my characters.
This month, my intentions are based around having courage. The courage to step out and complete what I’m called to create.
As I write, as I make the courageous decision to release another book to the world, my need for courage may not be based around fleeing for my life, but it is about sending work into the world that might give courage to others. The courage to believe that it might encourage the ones I write for.
As I send off my manuscript, I’ll think about both the One who inspires me to write for and the one who reads it.
I’ll take my courage and use the power of one.
What’s your intention this month?
