I Joined to See the World
Joe Morgan didn’t expect to be in a war when he joined the Navy as a teenager. “I joined up to see the world, not fight a war,” he said. “When the attack started I was scared and looked for a place to hide.”48 Morgan was at the airfield on Ford Island when the Japanese struck. Inside a hangar he found an I-beam to hide beneath. From his position of relative safety, he began to observe others outside the hanger firing back at the enemy airplanes: “Here I was, a trained gunner hiding in an I-beam and I began to feel ashamed of myself. The shame overpowered my fear. I went into the armory and grabbed a machine gun to fight back.”49
Fear is an understandable reaction to confusion and danger. However, this sailor and many others rose above it to do their duty, often courageously. In our daily lives we usually do not have to be heroes. However, it does take courage to admit our mistakes and to ask for forgiveness. It often takes courage to commit to a relationship, and to stick with it. It may even take courage for some to get up in the morning. An article in my Bible gives this insight: “Courage isn’t only for heroes… Because we have Jesus Christ behind us all his love, power, and wisdom we can afford to be brave. For Christians, this life is about living in God’s strength.”50
“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
—Judges 6:15–16