Some of you may know that I have a series of orchid drawings that I have created over the years. These drawings have all been done in colored pencil on a black surface. They all have “In the Midst of Darkness” as part of their titles. And they all were created during various seasons in my life when I needed encouragement to look beyond the darkness that I was seeing. My latest piece is titled “Courage in the Midst of Darkness”.
Why courage this time? Beauty, Joy, Peace, and Hope were the subjects for my other “In the Midst of Darkness” pieces, and now, Courage. Why?
Apparently, I don’t use pink very often in my art…
Whenever I thought about drawing one of these particular orchids, the word courage came to mind. I couldn’t explain why. It just seemed to fit. Maybe it was the colors I would have to use. It’s not my normal color palette. Some of the pencils needed for this piece have been sitting in the box untouched since I first took a colored pencil class, nineteen years ago (yeah, I feel old). Maybe it had something to do with how bold and daring this little flower looked, like it was ready to take on the world. Or, maybe God was just preparing me that I would be needing courage in the coming days.
So, what does it look like to have courage in the midst of darkness? Is it an Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli moment out of the Lord of the Rings? Charging straight into the battle, knowing that survival is not the goal? Sometimes. Sometimes courage looks like fighting the battle. But other times, it is simply taking the next step and living your life faithfully as the world crumbles around you.
Courage is choosing to dream when there is no hope. It is continuing to praise God when that dream is shattered. And it is choosing to dream again, trusting God with the outcome. Courage is speaking when everyone is silent. It is saying the truth no matter the cost, even the loss of what you hold most dear. It is loving someone enough to hold them accountable, knowing you might be rejected. Courage is staying firmly planted where God has you, even when you feel unwanted by those around you. It is choosing to let go and move on when God calls you forward. Courage is pushing through the pain. And it is admitting when you can’t go on. Courage is living in truth when you are surrounded by lies. It is doing what is right when everything is wrong. And it is trusting God to do what He has said, even when it looks impossible.
(I feel that I need to be clear, I am not advocating what the world calls courage. The world tells us that courage is following your heart, and standing up for what you believe in. They paint a heroic picture of change being created by individuals who are willing to get in the face of their opposition and shout them down. But what if your heart is lying to you? What if your beliefs are wrong? Is it still courage to take a stand and die fighting for it? Real courage is always founded on truth. And it only comes from one source, God. Anything else is not courage, it is insanity.)
So what does all of this have to do with me and my little orchid? Why write about courage with this drawing? Wouldn’t a depiction of a lion have been more appropriate for this topic? I will do my best to explain, but I make no guarantees that I will succeed.
I have a bracelet I like to wear. It says “Why fit in when you were born to stand out”. At times I worry that it may come across as arrogant or rebellious. But I am not saying “Everyone, look at me! I am different and special!” I am actually wearing it as a reminder and encouragement that it is okay to be different. It’s okay to be me. You see, I have found that I often am in the most need of courage when it comes to being who God made me to be. I tend to be the most fearful when I know that God is calling me to use my gifts. Maybe I am worried that I will fail, and let Him down. Or maybe I am concerned that others will notice and disapprove. Whatever the reason, there are definitely times when being able to “fit in” sounds wonderful, and the thought of “standing out” is terrifying.
When I look at my orchid, I see a flower bursting open, while all the other buds are still tightly closed. I see it reaching up and out, while the others droop down. I see a flash of color surrounded by darkness. I see a flower doing exactly what it was created to do; providing beauty for others.
So yes, sometimes courage looks like a lion roaring. But sometimes, courage just looks like a flower blooming by itself. Sometimes, courage is simply a matter of standing up, and standing out.
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
~Elisabeth Macy~