Gurkhas
Merilee Ottoson
In Tim Bowden’s book, One
Crowded Hour, there is a description of an incident that took place in
Borneo in 1964. Nepalese fighters, known as Gurkhas, were asked if they would
be willing to jump from airplanes into combat against their Indonesian enemies.
The Gurkhas did not clearly understand what was involved in this battle plan,
but they bravely agreed. They asked if the plane could fly slowly over a swampy
area and NO higher than 100 feet. They
were then told that the parachutes would not have enough time to open at that
height. The Gurkhas replied, “Oh,
you didn’t tell us there would be parachutes!” The Gurkhas were known to be
the most feared and finest soldiers in the world. What COURAGE!!
Do we need courage to live for God? Yes!! It is our job to
hold up the Biblical standard even when it is difficult. And it takes courage
to speak to others of our convictions. When the disciples followed Jesus, they
did it because they saw in Him TRUTH worth living for and eventually---worth
dying for. According to Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, “courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act in spite of the fear.”
Courage is NOT prideful boasting! It is not “putting someone
in their place” because they are wrong. Forcing others to do as you
wish does not show courage either. The dictionary tells us that the definition
of courage
is to “do something that frightens you, and/or the quality of being willing to
face negative situations involving danger or pain.” Throughout the Bible there
are numerous accounts of men and women who followed God’s directions, even when
it meant walking alone. Moses, Noah, Esther, Daniel and the three Hebrew
boys…..walked lonely and dangerous paths with courage. “Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your
God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Sometimes courage can be shown
by quiet confidence in the One Whose
hand you hold….
Walking a difficult path when no one
else walks with you…..
Seeing and knowing the right thing to
do and then doing it …
if necessary….by yourself.
