"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer"
By Mitch Solomon
A nation had been at war for a long time and its chief captain was angry at the government. He and his armies had fought many battles and had lost many men. Their Government was neglectful and rarely sent provisions or reinforcements. This angered the Chief Captain. He saw many of his men fighting while suffering from starvation and fatigue. This Chief Captain was a good man and a great lover of liberty. He wrote an epistle to the chief Judge or leader of the nation. In this letter the Captain explained his frustration in the Government.
In this letter the Chief Captain personally blamed the Chief Judge for the death of many good men. He expressed his love for liberty and the freedom of their nation. The Captain accused the Chief Judge of loving power over freedom, of neglect and having a false sense of security. The passionate Captain penned, “Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and He would deliver you? …If ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain…or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?” The Chief Captain ended his letter saying, “I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.”
Upon receiving this letter the Chief Judge answered the Captain and wrote, “…in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart…” It turned out that the Chief Judge was also a good man and a man that also loved the liberty and freedom of his country. He explained that power seeking men had chased him from the capital city and had set up their own nation. The Chief Judge also explained that he didn’t know if it was just for him to retain his judgment seat. He thanked the armies commander saying, “I do Joy in receiving your epistle for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do…” The inspiring letter that the Chief Captain sent to the leader of the nation gave the Chief Judge the courage to retain his Judgment seat and then together the two men lead their country to victory. The Bravery of one good man inspired another good man to awaken and become even more courageous then the inspirer. So it is true the saying, "A hero is no braver than an ordinary may, but he was braver five minutes longer."
In this letter the Chief Captain personally blamed the Chief Judge for the death of many good men. He expressed his love for liberty and the freedom of their nation. The Captain accused the Chief Judge of loving power over freedom, of neglect and having a false sense of security. The passionate Captain penned, “Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and He would deliver you? …If ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain…or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?” The Chief Captain ended his letter saying, “I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.”
Upon receiving this letter the Chief Judge answered the Captain and wrote, “…in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart…” It turned out that the Chief Judge was also a good man and a man that also loved the liberty and freedom of his country. He explained that power seeking men had chased him from the capital city and had set up their own nation. The Chief Judge also explained that he didn’t know if it was just for him to retain his judgment seat. He thanked the armies commander saying, “I do Joy in receiving your epistle for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do…” The inspiring letter that the Chief Captain sent to the leader of the nation gave the Chief Judge the courage to retain his Judgment seat and then together the two men lead their country to victory. The Bravery of one good man inspired another good man to awaken and become even more courageous then the inspirer. So it is true the saying, "A hero is no braver than an ordinary may, but he was braver five minutes longer."
I love this story because it teaches me that there are many good people but that they are “worried concerning what they should do”. This worry stalls them. It neutralizes them. Their worry concerning what to do prohibits their ability to change their life, family, city, country or even the world. Much more good could be brought about if these good, brave people could only be awakened and inspired to take a stand and fight for what they already know is right. That’s why this story enlightens me. It teaches how we can accomplish this.
The Chief Judge wasn’t angry with the Chief Captain because he rejoiced in the greatness of the Captain’s heart. That means the leader was encouraged by the Captain’s passion and bravery. The letter reconfirmed that the Leader wasn’t the only person with love for liberty and freedom. He realized he wasn’t alone in those feelings. The Chief Judge learned he couldn’t just rely on the goodness of God for his problem to be solved. He was taught that “faith without works is dead” and that God’s miracles come only after we make use of the means which He has provided for us. These things awakened and inspired the Chief Judge to become a courageous man, a man that lead his country in securing its freedoms.
A countries history was changed because of one letter. Because one man decided to be brave five minutes longer then his fellow countrymen. He wasn’t brave five minutes longer on the battle field or in a grand historic way. He wrote a letter. The Captain simply stood for what he knew to be right and that encouraged others to do the same. Amazingly simple isn’t it! Bravery is contagious. As a song says, “I may only be one match but I can cause an explosion.” So let’s be the one match and cause an explosion in people to make them cast aside their worries concerning what to do. There are many good people just needing a jumpstart. A letter. A call. An email. A text. A visit. Anything could be their jumpstart. These good people could be in our families. They could be our neighbors, our leaders or teachers. They’re in our government or are the people we work with or go to church with. It could even be ourselves. The Chief Captain also said in his letter, “…remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.” It takes good and brave people to inspire others. Heroes can change history. What makes a hero?
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer."
The Chief Judge wasn’t angry with the Chief Captain because he rejoiced in the greatness of the Captain’s heart. That means the leader was encouraged by the Captain’s passion and bravery. The letter reconfirmed that the Leader wasn’t the only person with love for liberty and freedom. He realized he wasn’t alone in those feelings. The Chief Judge learned he couldn’t just rely on the goodness of God for his problem to be solved. He was taught that “faith without works is dead” and that God’s miracles come only after we make use of the means which He has provided for us. These things awakened and inspired the Chief Judge to become a courageous man, a man that lead his country in securing its freedoms.
A countries history was changed because of one letter. Because one man decided to be brave five minutes longer then his fellow countrymen. He wasn’t brave five minutes longer on the battle field or in a grand historic way. He wrote a letter. The Captain simply stood for what he knew to be right and that encouraged others to do the same. Amazingly simple isn’t it! Bravery is contagious. As a song says, “I may only be one match but I can cause an explosion.” So let’s be the one match and cause an explosion in people to make them cast aside their worries concerning what to do. There are many good people just needing a jumpstart. A letter. A call. An email. A text. A visit. Anything could be their jumpstart. These good people could be in our families. They could be our neighbors, our leaders or teachers. They’re in our government or are the people we work with or go to church with. It could even be ourselves. The Chief Captain also said in his letter, “…remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.” It takes good and brave people to inspire others. Heroes can change history. What makes a hero?
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer."
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