Earlier this year I visited Huelva, Spain, which is very close to the border with Portugal. It is the place where Christopher Columbus launched the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria on his journey to America. There is a waterfront exhibit with life-size replicas of the three ships built in 1992 for Columbus’s 500th anniversary. And there is a museum next to the boats that commemorates the life of Columbus.
I walked into the ships and they were quite small. The Santa Maria was the largest ship with a length of approximately 22 meters. It is remarkable to see the size of the ships and imagine what it would be like to launch one ship from the southern coast of Spain and cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Imagine what it would have been like 533 years ago to board a ship with hopefully enough food and water to take you all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. It’s hard to believe that anyone would be willing to endure the uncertainty and hardship of sailing a small boat on the vast ocean.
Portrait of Christopher Columbus, 1519, by Piombo, Sebastiano, (1485-1547). Found in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
And then there is the actual navigation of such a trip. Columbus had no sextant. He did not have the most basic navigational aids that seafarers have used for hundreds of years. He literally relied on the sun and moon to steer his ship.
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Columbus’ goal was to reach Asia, but his original calculations were wrong. So instead, after five weeks at sea, he landed in what is now the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. It’s an absolutely amazing story of exploration and adventure. He would never have accomplished such a feat if he hadn’t had the courage to try.
Today we celebrate that courage.
Columbus is remembered for his epic journey that marked a major turning point in world history: he connected Europe with America. He came from Genoa, Italy, so Italian Americans are especially proud to celebrate his legacy. The District of Columbia, the seat of our government, is named in his honor. Columbia University, an Ivy League university, as well as many cities and towns in America, are named after him.
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In more recent times there has been controversy surrounding Columbus. Some believe that celebrating him glorifies the legacy of colonization, including the mistreatment, displacement and death of indigenous people. This debate has led to the rise of Indigenous Peoples Day, which aims to honor indigenous cultures, histories and contributions.
But our focus is on his courage. The courage to discover, to explore, to not get stuck in life. The courage to take risks and do what is demanding. The courage it takes to succeed.
What can get in the way is discouragement. Being discouraged literally means a loss of courage. Have you lost courage? Do you need to get your courage back? Do you have fear, anxiety, worries? You overcome it by practicing courage.
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An American flag flies near the statue of Christopher Columbus outside Washington’s Union Station, October 11, 1999. (AP Photo)
Joshua 1:9 tells us, “I have commanded you to be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged. I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” You can be brave because God is with you to help.
You can run away, or you can run after it. You can run toward your destiny, pursue the God-ordained opportunities in your life, or you can shrink back. But less demanding means less fulfilling.
Have the courage to pursue it. Have the courage not to stagnate, not to settle for where you are, not to give up on your future.
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Maybe it’s a big dream to pursue. Maybe it’s an addiction, a life-controlling habit that you need to break. Maybe it’s your mindset, negative self-talk, and nagging self-doubt that you need to change. Maybe it’s the right thing to do, even though it will be hard. Have the courage and just do it.
Stop giving the lies permission to stay. Stop repeating the criticism. Stop accepting defeat before you even try. Make room for courage. For the courageous voice inside you to say, “I can do it.”
You may stumble or fall along the way, but doing nothing guarantees that you will never progress. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is choosing to act despite everything. The real risk is not in failing, but in never trying.
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It is courage that turns conviction into action and sacrifice into legacy.
Discover your courage today.
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