"Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage."
Honor On-Stage and Off
When I was a kid, I used to love to watch the show M.A.S.H. If you haven’t seen it, it may be worth a binge to see all eleven seasons. Combining humor with the horrors of war was a stroke of genius on the director’s part.
There is a story about one of the characters in the show, where the priest, Father Mulcahy, becomes romantically attracted to one of the female nurses in the unit. The nurse returns his attraction, and for much of the episode, the viewer is left wondering if Father Mulcahy will break his vow of chastity to pursue the relationship.
The writers of the show initially pushed for the Father to break his vow, giving an added element of drama to please viewers. But as the story has it, the actor playing the priest refused to play the part if the ending was to play out like the writers wanted it to. He simply felt that on stage–and off, character matters.
Fortunately, the writers eventually gave in to Father Mulcahy, allowing the show to end with the priest keeping his vow.
Small Acts of Courage That Add Up
We have all been there, men. That moment in life when you are faced with a choice to be honorable, or to give in to the persistent evil that hides beneath the surface. The real test comes when we are alone, mistakenly believing there is no one to judge us for our actions. It is a moment of courage, buried in a small act of honor.
Deep down, we already know the path we must choose when faced with tough choices–because the innate characteristic of honor comes from within, born out of our very existence. It is, and will always be a gift of conscience by our almighty creator.
Honor means being courageous in the small decisions as well as the big ones. There are countless stories of individuals who have given all to save a fellow soldier in battle, or sacrificed themselves in order to spare a loved one or fight for an ideal. But what about those small acts of courage in everyday life? Those small things like being a good dad, or turning away from the stunning woman in the store instead of gawking at her, or even paying taxes on income gained from work performed off the books.
These are the small acts of courage that add up to the larger characteristic of honor as a whole–the man who chooses right, just because it is right.
Honor does not mean weakness. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It takes far less courage to give in to selfish desires or lie about who we are. Honor is deeper than that, and stronger. It means being honest when it hurts, or restraining ourselves when it feels better to give in.
Society is Watching Us
Men, we have been given an awesome responsibility. As part caretakers of this earth, we are to lead the charge of establishing footholds of honor in our families, communities, and nation. We cannot abandon the fact that evil has, and will continue to exist no matter where we go. We are to be learners–and teachers of all things honorable, because whether we choose to believe it or not, society is watching us, and will ultimately be influenced by our actions.
It’s more than just society that is watching, however. It is the next generation as well. Regardless of race, political affiliation, gender, or region of the world, the next generation of humanity is crying for stability and leadership.
Men, that can start in our families. Children are starving for truth and leadership in a confused world, where often the only influences are YouTube and TikTok to define what is right and wrong. Perhaps your act of courage can be eliminating those dark portals of influence in your family by limiting access to technology. No, I do not mean simply take away your children’s privileges, but act from a leadership perspective. Limit your own as well.
Honesty is another small act of courage that can go far. Husbands, fathers, admit when you are wrong. Career men, don’t inflate your accomplishments or cheat your clients. Young men, stand up for those who are taken advantage of, even when it means the death of your popularity.
My Act Of Courage
I cannot write this without acknowledging my own failures in striving for honor. I am not perfect, as I am sure many of you who know me already have gathered. I have made many mistakes in my past, and not-so-past-past that I am ashamed to admit. Often I am at the feet of my Lord asking for forgiveness and guidance.
Rather than empty all the skeletons in my closet and scare all of my readers off, I will offer one act of courage I am working on that I know will help me on the road to becoming a more honorable man.
Many times I struggle with judgement of others, simply because they have characteristics that are different than my own. Without sacrificing truth to be replaced a false sense of honor, I know that I can do more to keep my judgement in check. There is nothing in my Christian faith that teaches personal judgement of others simply for who they are, and yet my mind (and often my tongue) is quick to reserve judgement on those that don’t deserve it.
I hope my audience can understand this is an element of my own honor that I am still working on. Too many times I have allowed the weak portion of my spirit to reign when I am with others, and I don’t have the courage to speak up for what is right.
My goal, with the Lord’s help, will be to see all people the same, valued simply because they are created in the image of God. Imagine what kind of honor I could display if I were to master this flaw! I am certain I could influence many within just my circle alone.
I pray that you will join me on this journey to protect honor and to exhibit courageous acts in–and outside of our homes. If we are to influence entire nations, we have to start small. I plan to do just that, not for the influence, but for the simple reason that it is the right thing to do.
What are your acts of courage?
I would love to hear your thoughts! Let me know what you think by visiting my author page to contact me. If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, you can use the button below to sign up for epic updates, discounts, and free reads.
