Take Courage

As a child I thought the adverts to "take Courage" rather clever. Coincidentally the idea has been revived in a banned recent advert. I hadn't realised just how many times the Bible talks about taking courage, though doubtless not the bitter kind.

I have heard various takes on the extraordinary relationship between the apostle John and Jesus as in "there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved." Was John Jesus' favourite? Come to that, what about the extraordinary relationship between Lucy and Aslan in C.S.Lewis's Narnia stories. Was Lucy Aslan's favourite? Any suggestion of something merely sensual is as absurd here as it was for Jesus. Both relationships were on a higher plane than the mundane. It is like... I was listening to my favourite composer the other day when, first, the sound of our petrol lawnmower outside my open window cut across, and then came the yells of several children running along the corridor outside my door - noises that had no bearing on the blessèd music, noises that could mask but could not adulterate.

True relationship is not fuelled by a pretty face or by common interest but is about the heart. "The LORD is nigh to those of a broken heart; and saves those of a contrite spirit". King David did much worse things than Saul and yet Saul was rejected whilst, even after his death, David's heart was said to be "perfect with God".

Paul could confidently say "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" and Abraham "believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." In comparison any such relationship I might claim to have seems decidedly weak and second-hand. But in any event true relationship gets proven only in adversity. Faced with difficulties we discover how we measure up.

The Dark Island in Lewis's Voyage of the Dawn Treader was such a difficulty. It seemed hopeless - there was no way out. And so the heart which was in Lucy whispered, "Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now." The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little - a very, very little - better. "After all, nothing has really happened to us yet," she thought.

"Look!" cried Rynelf's voice hoarsely from the bows. There was a tiny speck of light ahead, and while they watched a broad beam of light fell from it upon the ship. It did not alter the surrounding darkness, but the whole ship was lit up as if by searchlight. Caspian blinked, stared round, saw the faces of his companions all with wild, fixed expressions. Everyone was staring in the same direction: behind everyone lay his black, sharply-edged shadow.

Lucy looked along the beam and presently saw something in it. At first it looked like a cross, then it looked like an aeroplane, then it looked like a kite, and at last with a whirring of wings it was right overhead and was an albatross. It circled three times round the mast and then perched for an instant on the crest of the gilded dragon at the prow. It called out in a strong sweet voice what seemed to be words though no one understood them. After that it spread its wings, rose, and began to fly slowly ahead, bearing a little to starboard. Drinian steered after it not doubting that it offered good guidance. But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.

In a few moments the darkness turned into a greyness ahead, and then, almost before they dared to begin hoping, they had shot out into the sunlight and were in the warm, blue world again...

...The Dark Island and the darkness had vanished for ever.

"Why!" cried Lord Rhoop. "You have destroyed it!"

"I don't think it was us," said Lucy...

...So all afternoon with great joy they sailed south-east with a fair wind. But nobody noticed when the albatross had disappeared.

Those words "if ever you loved us" and "Courage, dear heart" echo in my heart whenever I feel down. And notice how it is only Lucy who sees the detail: it is as if she is tuned to a higher plane. Some folk criticise Lewis but one thing can be said - he knew his Bible. This was no sickly emotional dribble but an allusion to those times Jesus imparted courage to his listeners. I like Lewis's writing because it is uncomplicated yet deep in meaning, concise yet rich in connotations. So what is this "courage" thing?

Courage is mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty (Merriam-Webster). In the New Testament the Greek word is tharseo and has the idea of inner warmth and thus an emboldening from within. It is variously translated "be of good cheer", "take heart" or "take courage" and always in the imperative. In all but one instance Jesus is speaking, for example (1) Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." and (2) But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." and (3) "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Each time Jesus is exhorting folk who have already moved in faith. As if He knew that past faith in God does not preclude but rather almost guarantees future difficulty or tribulation. Like Lucy, I find myself needing courage.